IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION: The Patzcuaro peeping frog is found on the southern edge of the Mexico Plateau and Cordillera Volcanica of Michoacan, as well as on the Nevado de Colima in southeastern Jalisco. Frogs tentatively identified as this species are found around Tapalpa, Jalisco.

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; [...]]]> PATZCUARO PEEPING FROG
Tomodactylus angustidigitorum – Taylor 1939

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
The Patzcuaro peeping frog is found on the southern edge of the Mexico Plateau and Cordillera Volcanica of Michoacan, as well as on the Nevado de Colima in southeastern Jalisco. Frogs tentatively identified as this species are found around Tapalpa, Jalisco.

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus should be retained to represent this distinctive group of frogs.
TYPE:
Described as Tomodactylus angustidigitorum by Taylor (1940). Holotype: FMNH 100126. Type locality: “Quiroga (northeastern end of Lake Patzcuaro), Michoacan, Mexico, elevation 6,880 ft.”
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no experience with this species to date.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List status for this species is currently “Vulnerable” due to it’s fragmented distribution, human alteration of it’s habitat, and presumed population declines in certain areas.
REFERENCES:

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION: Tomodactylus dilatus is found in the Sierra Madre del Sur of central Guerrero in the region of the city of Chilpancingo.

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus should be retained to represent this distinctive group of frogs. This species is [...]]]> GUERRERO PEEPING FROG
Tomodactylus dilatus – Davis & Dixon 1955

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Tomodactylus dilatus is found in the Sierra Madre del Sur of central Guerrero in the region of the city of Chilpancingo.

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus should be retained to represent this distinctive group of frogs. This species is closely related to the widely distributed T. nitidus.
TYPE:
Described as Tomodactylus dilatus by Davis and Dixon (1955). Holotype: TCWC 11245. Type locality: “four miles west of Mazatlan, 7400 feet, Guerrero”, Mexico.
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no experience with this species.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red list status for this species is currently “Endangered” due to it’s limited geographic distribution, and presumed decline in the extent and quality of it’s habitat. T. dilatus probably occurs more widely in central Guerrero; regional surveys should shed some light on this subject.
REFERENCES:

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION: The White-lipped peeping frog has been reported from a single locality in central Guerrero: Agua del Obispo. This town is located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre del Sur.

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus should be retained to represent this [...]]]> WHITE-LIPPED PEEPING FROG
Tomodactylus dixoni – Lynch 1991

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
The White-lipped peeping frog has been reported from a single locality in central Guerrero: Agua del Obispo. This town is located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre del Sur.

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus should be retained to represent this distinctive group of frogs. This species appears to be closely related to Tomodactylus nitidus.
TYPE:
Described as Tomodactylus albolabris by Taylor (1943). Holotype: FMNH 100082. Type locality: “Agua del Obispo, Guerrero, (km. 351)”, Mexico.
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no experience with this species.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List status for this species is currently “Critically Endangered” due to it’s limited distribution and continued decline in the extent and quality of it’s habitat. Although T. dixoni has been reported from a single locality, it is likely that it occurs elsewhere. Surveys should be performed in adjacent regions so that the status of this frog can be more accurately recognized. Mexican law protects T. maurus under the “Special Protection” listing.
REFERENCES:

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION: Tomodactylus grandis is known recently only from a small preserve in the lava fields of the Xitle volcano, south of Mexico City. Historically it was found at a few sites around Mexico City, all in the immediate vicinity of the type locality.

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with [...]]]> GREAT PEEPING FROG
Tomodactylus grandis – Dixon 1957

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Tomodactylus grandis is known recently only from a small preserve in the lava fields of the Xitle volcano, south of Mexico City. Historically it was found at a few sites around Mexico City, all in the immediate vicinity of the type locality.

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus should be retained to represent this distinctive group of frogs.
TYPE:
Described as Tomodactylus grandis by Dixon (1957). Holotype: TCWC 12628. Type locality: “San Pedro (2 miles south Tlalpam), 7,800 feet, Distrito Federal, Mexico”.
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no experience with this species.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List status for this species is “Critically Endangered” due to it’s extremely limited distribution and continued decline in the extent and quality of it’s habitat.
REFERENCES:

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION: Tomodactylus maurus is known from mid-high elevations in southeastern Mexico state and adjacent Morelos, Mexico.

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus should be retained to represent this distinctive group of frogs. TYPE: Described as Tomodactylus fuscus by Davis and Dixon (1955). Holotype: TCWC 11252. [...]]]> BROWN PEEPING FROG
Tomodactylus maurus – Hedges 1989

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Tomodactylus maurus is known from mid-high elevations in southeastern Mexico state and adjacent Morelos, Mexico.

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus should be retained to represent this distinctive group of frogs.
TYPE:
Described as Tomodactylus fuscus by Davis and Dixon (1955). Holotype: TCWC 11252. Type locality: “1 1/2 miles southeast of Huitzilac, 7800 feet, Morelos, Mexico”.
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no experience with this frog.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List status for this species is currently “Data Deficient”. Little is known of this species’ range and ecological requirements. Mexican law protects T. maurus under the “Special Protection” listing.
REFERENCES:

SHINY PEEPING FROG Tomodactylus nitidus – Peters 1869

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION: Tomodactylus nitidus is found in the upper Ri­o Balsas drainage of the states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, Mexico state, and Morelos as well as the eastern edge of the Mexico Plateau in Puebla and adjacent Veracruz. It’s distribution in [...]]]>
Adult, 7,000′, Puebla, Mexico

Adult, 7,000′, Puebla, Mexico

Adult Male, 5,000′, Puebla, Mexico

SHINY PEEPING FROG
Tomodactylus nitidus – Peters 1869

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Tomodactylus nitidus is found in the upper Ri­o Balsas drainage of the states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, Mexico state, and Morelos as well as the eastern edge of the Mexico Plateau in Puebla and adjacent Veracruz. It’s distribution in the state of Oaxaca is poorly known, but it does occur in the arid north-central region and probably the xeric Valley of Oaxaca. Frogs I found south of Oaxaca City in the Sierra Madre del Sur may be this species, but this has yet to be determined and is doubtful.

HABITAT:

Arid Mountain Habitat, 7,000′, Puebla, Mexico

Arid Canyon Habitat, 5,000′, Puebla, Mexico

NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus should be retained to represent this distinctive group of frogs.
Most authors consider T. nitidus to include two additional subspecies: orarius and petersi; I disagree with this arrangement and herein consider both forms as species. For additional information, please see their accounts.
TYPE:
Described as Liuperus nitidus by Peters (1870). Holotype: ZMB 6669 according to Kellogg (1932). Type locality: “wareren Gegenden Mexicos (Matamoros u. a. o.)” = warmer parts of Mexico (Matamoros and other areas); rendered as “State of Puebla, Mexico, possibly from the vicinity of Matamoros” by Kellogg (1932). Probably near Matamoros [Puebla, Mexico] according to Smith and Taylor (1948).
PERSONAL NOTES:
In the summer of 2005 I was fortunate to observe this species at various sites in the states of Oaxaca and Puebla, Mexico. Frogs positively identified as this species were found in arid regions such as the Zapotitlan Basin (a rainshadow desert), the Azumbilla region (an arid plateau) and the subtropical desert of north-central Oaxaca. In these areas, frogs called from rocks, trees and brush on both rainy and dry evenings in the month of August. At Azumbilla we found T. nitidus beneath rocks on damp soil; here they were found with Conopsis lineatus and the endemic Xenosaurus rectocollaris.
In the Zapotitlan Basin we found nitidus calling with Exerodonta xera in the riparian zones of desert canyons.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List status for this species (also containing T. orarius and T. petersi) is “Least Concern” due to it’s large geographic distribution, presumed large worldwide population and adaptability (especially to human-altered habitats).
REFERENCES:

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION: The Colima peeping frog is found throughout the state of Colima, from near the coast to the pine forests near the Jalisco border; it is also found in several mountain ranges in south-central Jalisco (the Sierra Manatlan; Volcan de Colima; Nevado de Colima and the Tapalpa region). This species [...]]]> COLIMA PEEPING FROG
Tomodactylus orarius – Dixon 1957

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
The Colima peeping frog is found throughout the state of Colima, from near the coast to the pine forests near the Jalisco border; it is also found in several mountain ranges in south-central Jalisco (the Sierra Manatlan; Volcan de Colima; Nevado de Colima and the Tapalpa region). This species probably also occurs in extreme southwestern Michoacan and more extensively in the highlands of western Jalisco. Elevational distribution from approximately 75-2300 m.

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus should be retained to represent this distinctive group of frogs.
Most authors still consider orarius to be a subspecies of T. nitidus, but I disagree with this arrangement. T. orarius is morphologically diagnosable from both nitidus and petersi, and it replaces petersi in a region between populations of that frog.
TYPE:
Described as Tomodactylus nitidus orarius by Dixon (1957). Holotype: UMMZ 116922. Type locality: “4.5 mi. southwest of Tecolapa, 450 feet, Colima, Mexico”.
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have observed this frog throughout Colima and Jalisco, Mexico. My first experience with T. orarius was in Tapalpa, Jalisco in August, 2003. In the meadows west of town I found males of this species calling from the tops of small bushes; they were fully exposed and were hard to find at first because of their ability to “throw their voice”. Eleutherodactylus occidentalis was also calling on that particular evening, from the rock walls and wooded hillsides adjacent to the meadows.
In this region, T. orarius is easily captured; however, in the Tropical Deciduous Forests of Colima they most often call from elevated sites on high roadcuts and in dense vegetation where they are quite difficult to locate. In Colima, this species occurs in microsympatry with the smaller Syrrhophus modestus.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List status for this species (under the name T. nitidus) is “Least Concern” due to it’s large geographic distribution, presumed large worldwide population and adaptability (especially to human-altered habitats).
REFERENCES:

PETER’S SHINY PEEPING FROG Tomodactylus petersi – Duellman 1954

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION: Tomodactylus petersi is found from the Sierra Madre Occidental of Sinaloa and Durango south to the Sierra de Coalcoman; it is found inland to the mountains of the state of Aguascalientes.

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus [...]]]>
Adult Male, 4,400′, Sinaloa, Mexico

PETER’S SHINY PEEPING FROG
Tomodactylus petersi – Duellman 1954

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Tomodactylus petersi is found from the Sierra Madre Occidental of Sinaloa and Durango south to the Sierra de Coalcoman; it is found inland to the mountains of the state of Aguascalientes.

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus should be retained to represent this distinctive group of frogs.
Tomodactylus petersi was synonomized with T. nitidus by Dixon (1957). I do not agree with this arrangement, and believe both subspecies of nitidus (orarius and petersi) deserve specific status. T. petersi is morphologically diagnosable from all other Tomodactylus, and it’s range is allopatric of all other members of the genus with the exception of the distinctive T. rufescens in the Sierra de Coalcoman of Michoacan, and possibly T. angustidigitorum.
TYPE:
Described as Tomodactylus petersi by Duellman (1954). Holotype: UMMZ 109238. Type locality: “one-fourth mile east of Coalcoman (elevation 3500 feet)”, Michoacan, Mexico.
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have seen (or heard) this frog in Sinaloa, Durango, Nayarit and Michoacán. In Sinaloa I spent two evenings (August 2002, 2003) mapping the distributions of the Eleutherodactylid frogs of the genera Syrrhophus and Tomodactylus along Mexico Highway 40; T. petersi was abundant and widely distributed along this transect. We found them calling from backyards in the middle of the small town of Santa Lucia, grazed hillsides, open pine forest, and densely-wooded canyons. Males always called from elevated sites (normally low branches of trees), and did so from dusk until early in the morning. Other frogs we found in microsympatry with this species were Syrrhophus teretistes (most calling from the ground) and Tomodactylus saxatilis (calling from rock outcrops).
In August, 2003 in the mountains of coastal Nayarit (southeast of San Blas; west of Tepic) we found this frog calling from trees within agricultural groves. At this site Syrrhophus pallidus was also calling (from terrestrial locations).
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List status for this species (under the name T. nitidus) is “Least Concern” due to it’s large geographic distribution, presumed large worldwide population and adaptability (especially to human-altered habitats).
REFERENCES:

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION: This species is endemic to high elevation sites in the Sierra de Coalcoman of southern Michoacan. Elevational distribution from 1900-2300 m.

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus should be retained to represent this distinctive group of frogs. TYPE: Described as Tomodactylus rufescens [...]]]> RED PEEPING FROG
Tomodactylus rufescens – Duellman & Dixon 1959

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
This species is endemic to high elevation sites in the Sierra de Coalcoman of southern Michoacan. Elevational distribution from 1900-2300 m.

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus should be retained to represent this distinctive group of frogs.
TYPE:
Described as Tomodactylus rufescens by Duellman and Dixon (1959). Holotype: UMMZ 118509. Type locality: “Dos Aguas, Michoacan, Mexico, 6900 feet”.
PERSONAL NOTES:
I have been to the Sierra de Coalcoman only once, and failed to reach the elevation inhabited by this frog.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List status for this species is currently “Critically Endangered”, due to it’s restricted geographic distribution and presumed small worldwide population. Habitat destruction is also a major concern in the long-term survival of this frog. From what I understand, this frog is distributed throughout the Sierra de Coalcoman and has adapted to moderate alteration of it’s habitat there.
REFERENCES:

IDENTIFICATION: DISTRIBUTION: Tomodactylus saxatilis is known to occur in a small region of Sinaloa and Durango, centered around Hwy 40. This area is made up of extensive Barrancas with largely vertical topography. The range of this frog is surely more extensive than currently known. Elevational distribution from about 1700-1900 m.

HABITAT: NATURAL HISTORY: TAXONOMY: The [...]]]> MARBLED PEEPING FROG
Tomodactylus saxatilis – Webb 1962

IDENTIFICATION:
DISTRIBUTION:
Tomodactylus saxatilis is known to occur in a small region of Sinaloa and Durango, centered around Hwy 40. This area is made up of extensive Barrancas with largely vertical topography. The range of this frog is surely more extensive than currently known. Elevational distribution from about 1700-1900 m.

HABITAT:
NATURAL HISTORY:
TAXONOMY:
The genus Tomodactylus was recently synonomized with Eleutherodactylus; however, I believe that Tomodactylus should be retained to represent this distinctive group of frogs.
TYPE:
Described as Tomodactylus saxatilis by Webb (1962). Holotype: KU 63326. Type locality: “eight miles west of El Palmito, Sinaloa, approximately 6100 feet”, Mexico.
PERSONAL NOTES:
In August, 2003 I heard this species calling from the type locality along Hwy 40, Sinaloa. T. petersi was also calling from small bushes at this site, and because of a misunderstanding on our part we dismissed the calls of saxatilis as those of the nearly sympatric Syrrhophus teretistes and collected only T. petersi to photograph. Oops.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List status for this species is currently “Endangered”, due to it’s small geographic distribution and presumed small worldwide population. Some concern has been shown in regards to habitat destruction and this frog; however, I believe that the complex geography of the Barrancas that saxatilis inhabits will ensure it’s continued survival. This species can probably adapt to moderate human impact in part because it breeds using direct developement.
REFERENCES: