MORELET’S LEAF FROG Agalychnis moreletii – Dumeril 1853

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION: Historically, Agalychnis moreletii is found in several widely-disjunct regions of southern Mexico; In Puebla it is known from the Sierra Norte, in Veracruz from Cuautlapan and the Los Tuxtlas region, in Oaxaca from the Sierra Juarez [...]]]>
Adult Male, 4,500′, Oaxaca, Mexico

Adult Male, 4,500′, Oaxaca, Mexico

Inactive Adult Male, 4,500′, Oaxaca, Mexico

MORELET’S LEAF FROG
Agalychnis moreletii – Dumeril 1853

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Historically, Agalychnis moreletii is found in several widely-disjunct regions of southern Mexico; In Puebla it is known from the Sierra Norte, in Veracruz from Cuautlapan and the Los Tuxtlas region, in Oaxaca from the Sierra Juarez and Sierra Miahuatlan, from Chiapas in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas and Tapilula/Pueblo Nuevo Solistahuacan, and in the Sierra Madre del Sur of Guerrero. Elevational distribution from 300-1500 m.

HABITAT:

Tropical Montane Habitat, 4,500′, Oaxaca, Mexico

Man-Made Oviposition Site, 4,500′, Oaxaca, Mexico

NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
TYPE:
Described as Hyla moreletii by Dumeril (1853). Syntypes: MNHNP 428. Type locality: “Vera-Paz”, Guatemala; corrected to “Coban in [Departamento Alta] Vera Paz, Guatemala” by Kellogg (1932).
PERSONAL NOTES:
On the night of July 8, 2005 I had the good fortune to discover this species calling from around an old well near Vista Hermosa, Sierra Juarez, Oaxaca. Three males were giving half-hearted vocalizations while perched on cattails about 3-4′ above the water. One Smilisca cyanosticta was also calling from a floating position in the well. On a forested slope nearby, what I believe to be Anotheca spinosa called sporadically. There was no rain on this evening.
Also of note was the fact that the well was full of nearly transformed, as well as 50% grown Agalychnis tadpoles. This indicates that A. moreleti has a lengthy breeding season.
In July, 2006 I returned to Vista Hermosa with Jesse Delia to survey for montane stream-breeders. We camped at the Agalychnis moreleti breeding site and found many adult animals around the well. Also seen were several egg masses attached to cattails above the waters edge as well as tadpoles of all stages of development.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List status for this species is “Critically Endangered” due to a projected population decline of 80% over the next ten years due to habitat loss and infection with the Chytrid fungus; surveyors in the states of Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico reported this species extirpated from all sites they visited. (In July, 2005 I found an extant breeding population in the Sierra Juarez of Oaxaca – photographed above).
REFERENCES:
Faivovich, J., C. F. B. Haddad, P. C. A. Garcia, D. R. Frost, J. A. Campbell, and W. C. Wheeler. 2005. Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 294:1-240.
Lips, K. R., J. R. Mendelson 3rd, A. Munoz-Alonso, L. Canseco-Marquez and D. G. Mulcahy. 2004. Amphibian population declines in montane southern Mexico: resurveys of historical localities. Biological Conservation 119(2004):555-564.

MARINE TOAD Rhinella marina – Linnaeus 1758

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION: HABITAT: Tropical Lowland Habitat, 300′, Tamaulipas, Mexico Rain Forest Habitat, 750′, Sierra de los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico Habitat, 500′, Oaxaca, Mexico Pacific Lowland Habitat, 100′, Guerrero, Mexico Temporary Pond Oviposition Site, 500′, Oaxaca, Mexico

NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: TYPE: PERSONAL NOTES: CONSERVATION STATUS: REFERENCES:

MEXICO BURROWING TOAD Rhinophrynus dorsalis – Dumeril & Bibron 1841

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION: R. dorsalis is found from the United States to Costa Rica. [...]]]>
Adult Male, Atlantic Versant Color Variant, 500′, Oaxaca, Mexico

Adult Male, Pacific Versant Color Variant, 100′, Oaxaca, Mexico

Adult Male, Pacific Versant Aberrant, 100′, Oaxaca, Mexico

Adults in Amplexus, 200′, Oaxaca, Mexico

Close-Up of Hind Foot Spade, an Effective Burrowing Tool

MEXICO BURROWING TOAD
Rhinophrynus dorsalis – Dumeril & Bibron 1841

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
R. dorsalis is found from the United States to Costa Rica. In Mexico it occurs on both coasts: on the Pacific from the mouth of the Rio Balsas in Guerrero to the Guatemala border in Chiapas; on the Atlantic from the Rio Grande (Texas border) south along the gulf lowlands through the Yucatan Peninsula to Guatemala and Belize. Elevational distribution from sea level to 500 m.

HABITAT:

Temporary Pond Oviposition Site, 500′, Oaxaca, Mexico

Pacific Lowland Habitat, 100′, Guerrero, Mexico

NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
The sole member of the family Rhinophrynidae. Populations of this frog on the Atlantic and Pacific versants of Mexico display distinct differences in color – Pacific animals being yellow and black, while Atlantic animals are orange/red and black. Further investigation in geographic variation within R. dorsalis may reveal the presence of unnamed species.
TYPE:
Described as Rhinophrynus dorsalis by Dumeril and Bibron (1841). Holotype: MNHNP 693. Type locality: “Vera-Cruz”, Mexico.
PERSONAL NOTES:
In July, 2005 I had the good fortune in finding my first breeding choruses of R. dorsalis in the Atlantic foothills of Oaxaca, Mexico. The combined calls coming from a roadside pond was absolutely eerie, and unnerved my hunting partner a bit. The frogs called from floating positions along waters’ edge, usually from within mats of floating grass cuttings. Other species calling from this pond were Trachycephalus venulosus, Scinax staufferi, Smilisca baudinii, and Leptodactylus melanonotus.
A few nights later, on the coast of Oaxaca (Hwy 200) we were lucky enough to witness a mass breeding migration of Rhinophrynus. Intense thunderstorm activity had ocurred earlier in the evening, and the road was swarming with R. dorsalis, Triprion, Incilius, and several other species of amphibians. Every roadside ditch from Salina Cruz to Huatulco seemed to have R. dorsalis calling from it’s muddy water, and in some places the road was covered with so many individuals that it was impossible to miss them all. Many Rhinophrynus were crossing the road while in amplexus (see photo above). Thankfully traffic was light on this evening, reducing the number of amphibians killed on the highway.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List status is currently that of “Least Concern” due to this species’ wide geographic distribution, tolerance of a wide variety of habitats (including those modified by humans) and a presumed large, stable worldwide population.
REFERENCES:

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION:

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: TYPE: PERSONAL NOTES: I have no experience with this species. CONSERVATION STATUS: REFERENCES: Faivovich, J., C. F. B. Haddad, P. C. A. Garcia, D. R. Frost, J. A. Campbell, and W. C. Wheeler. 2005. Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision. Bulletin [...]]]> CHAMULA MOUNTAIN STREAM FROG
Duellmanohyla chamulae – Duellman 1961

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
TYPE:
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no experience with this species.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
REFERENCES:
Faivovich, J., C. F. B. Haddad, P. C. A. Garcia, D. R. Frost, J. A. Campbell, and W. C. Wheeler. 2005. Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 294:1-240.

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION:

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: TYPE: PERSONAL NOTES: I have no experience with this species. CONSERVATION STATUS: REFERENCES: Faivovich, J., C. F. B. Haddad, P. C. A. Garcia, D. R. Frost, J. A. Campbell, and W. C. Wheeler. 2005. Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision. [...]]]> SIERRA JUAREZ MOUNTAIN STREAM FROG
Duellmanohyla ignicolor – Duellman 1961

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
TYPE:
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no experience with this species.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
REFERENCES:
Faivovich, J., C. F. B. Haddad, P. C. A. Garcia, D. R. Frost, J. A. Campbell, and W. C. Wheeler. 2005. Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 294:1-240.
Lips, K. R., J. R. Mendelson 3rd, A. Munoz-Alonso, L. Canseco-Marquez and D. G. Mulcahy. 2004. Amphibian population declines in montane southern Mexico: resurveys of historical localities. Biological Conservation 119(2004):555-564.

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION:

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: TYPE: PERSONAL NOTES: I have no experience with this species with the possible exception of finding larvae in the Cerro Baul region of Oaxaca in 2005. CONSERVATION STATUS: REFERENCES: Faivovich, J., C. F. B. Haddad, P. C. A. Garcia, D. R. Frost, J. A. Campbell, and W. C. Wheeler. 2005. Systematic [...]]]> SCHMIDT’S MOUNTAIN STREAM FROG
Duellmanohyla schmidtorum – Stuart 1954

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
TYPE:
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no experience with this species with the possible exception of finding larvae in the Cerro Baul region of Oaxaca in 2005.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
REFERENCES:
Faivovich, J., C. F. B. Haddad, P. C. A. Garcia, D. R. Frost, J. A. Campbell, and W. C. Wheeler. 2005. Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 294:1-240.

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION:

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: TYPE: PERSONAL NOTES: I have no experience with this species. CONSERVATION STATUS: REFERENCES: Faivovich, J., C. F. B. Haddad, P. C. A. Garcia, D. R. Frost, J. A. Campbell, and W. C. Wheeler. 2005. Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision. Bulletin of [...]]]> GREATER BROMELIAD TREEFROG
Bromeliohyla bromeliacea – Schmidt 1933

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
TYPE:
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no experience with this species.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
REFERENCES:
Faivovich, J., C. F. B. Haddad, P. C. A. Garcia, D. R. Frost, J. A. Campbell, and W. C. Wheeler. 2005. Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 294:1-240.

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION:

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: Megastomatohyla is the genus including all of the former members of the former Hyla mixomaculata group; it is defined by Faivovich et al. (2005). TYPE: PERSONAL NOTES: I have no experience with this species. CONSERVATION STATUS: REFERENCES: Faivovich, J., C. F. B. Haddad, P. C. A. Garcia, D. R. Frost, J. A. Campbell, and [...]]]> SIERRA MIXE TREEFROG
Megastomatohyla mixe – Duellman 1965

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
Megastomatohyla is the genus including all of the former members of the former Hyla mixomaculata group; it is defined by Faivovich et al. (2005).
TYPE:
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no experience with this species.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
REFERENCES:
Faivovich, J., C. F. B. Haddad, P. C. A. Garcia, D. R. Frost, J. A. Campbell, and W. C. Wheeler. 2005. Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 294:1-240.

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION:

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: TYPE: PERSONAL NOTES: I did not find this species during my nocturnal anuran surveys on highway 175. CONSERVATION STATUS: REFERENCES: Faivovich, J., C. F. B. Haddad, P. C. A. Garcia, D. R. Frost, J. A. Campbell, and W. C. Wheeler. 2005. Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: [...]]]> OAXACA FRINGE-LIMB TREEFROG
Ecnomiohyla echinata – Duellman 1962

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
TYPE:
PERSONAL NOTES:
I did not find this species during my nocturnal anuran surveys on highway 175.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
REFERENCES:
Faivovich, J., C. F. B. Haddad, P. C. A. Garcia, D. R. Frost, J. A. Campbell, and W. C. Wheeler. 2005. Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 294:1-240.
Lips, K. R., J. R. Mendelson 3rd, A. Munoz-Alonso, L. Canseco-Marquez and D. G. Mulcahy. 2004. Amphibian population declines in montane southern Mexico: resurveys of historical localities. Biological Conservation 119(2004):555-564.

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION:

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: TYPE: PERSONAL NOTES: I believe I heard this species calling from ca. 40′ up in an enormous tree covered in talk bromeliads near Huatusco, Veracruz (June 2005). Returning to this site in July, 2006 yielded no calling frogs from high sites, and only E. miotympanum calling from waters edge. We [...]]]> GREATER BROMELIAD TREEFROG
Bromeliohyla dendroscarta – Taylor 1940

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
TYPE:
PERSONAL NOTES:
I believe I heard this species calling from ca. 40′ up in an enormous tree covered in talk bromeliads near Huatusco, Veracruz (June 2005). Returning to this site in July, 2006 yielded no calling frogs from high sites, and only E. miotympanum calling from waters edge. We did not hear this species while conducting nocturnal surveys along highway 175 in the vicinity of Vista Hermosa in 2005/6.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
REFERENCES:
Faivovich, J., C. F. B. Haddad, P. C. A. Garcia, D. R. Frost, J. A. Campbell, and W. C. Wheeler. 2005. Systematic review of the frog family Hylidae, with special reference to Hylinae: phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 294:1-240.
Lips, K. R., J. R. Mendelson 3rd, A. Munoz-Alonso, L. Canseco-Marquez and D. G. Mulcahy. 2004. Amphibian population declines in montane southern Mexico: resurveys of historical localities. Biological Conservation 119(2004):555-564.