SINALOA SHOVEL-HEADED TREEFROG Triprion spatulatus – Gunther 1882 Triprion spatulatus spatulatus – Gunther 1882

IDENTIFICATION:

DISTRIBUTION: This frog is found in coastal and foothill regions of central Sinaloa (and probably extreme west-central Durango) south to the vicinity of the Nayarit border, Mexico.

HABITAT: Habitat, 250′, Sinaloa, Mexico

NATURAL HISTORY:

TAXONOMY: T. spatulatus contains one subspecies (reticulatus); however, it [...]]]>
Adult Female, 200′, Sinaloa, Mexico

Same as above

SINALOA SHOVEL-HEADED TREEFROG
Triprion spatulatus – Gunther 1882
Triprion spatulatus spatulatus – Gunther 1882

IDENTIFICATION:

DISTRIBUTION:
This frog is found in coastal and foothill regions of central Sinaloa (and probably extreme west-central Durango) south to the vicinity of the Nayarit border, Mexico.

HABITAT:

Habitat, 250′, Sinaloa, Mexico

NATURAL HISTORY:

TAXONOMY:
T. spatulatus contains one subspecies (reticulatus); however, it is unknown whether these frogs are distinct enough to warrant subspecific recognition.

TYPE:
Described as Triprion spatulatus by Günther (1882). Syntypes: BM 1947.2.25.79 (formerly 82.11.13.1) and 1947.2.25.80-81 (formerly 82.12.5.11-12) according to Condit (1964). Type locality: “near Presidio [de Mazatlan, Sinaloa], in Mexico”.

PERSONAL NOTES:
I have seen T. s. spatulatus on several occasions in Sinaloa, Mexico. A single female was found 6′ high on a mezquite branch overhanging a cattle tank south of Mazatlan; there was no rain that evening. A small chorus of Triprion, Pachymedusa and Smilisca was found near San Ignacio, Sinaloa in the tropical foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental on a rainy night in August, 2002.

CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List status for this species is currently “Least Concern” due to it’s tolerance for a wide variety of habitats (including those altered by humans), large geographic range, and seemingly stable worldwide population.

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: Triprion petasatus occurs throughout the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Belize and northern Guatemala. Elevational distribution from sea level to 740 m.

HABITAT:

NATURAL HISTORY:

TAXONOMY: Cope described the genus Triprion in 1866; it currently contains two species (petasatus and spatulatus).

TYPE: Described as Pharyngodon petasatus by Cope (1865). Holotype: USNM 12287. Type [...]]]> YUCATAN CASQUE-HEADED TREEFROG
Triprion petasatus – Cope 1865

IDENTIFICATION:

DISTRIBUTION:
Triprion petasatus occurs throughout the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Belize and northern Guatemala. Elevational distribution from sea level to 740 m.

HABITAT:

NATURAL HISTORY:

TAXONOMY:
Cope described the genus Triprion in 1866; it currently contains two species (petasatus and spatulatus).

TYPE:
Described as Pharyngodon petasatus by Cope (1865). Holotype: USNM 12287. Type locality: “vicinity of Mérida, Yucatan . . . . from a hole in the rocky wall of the Cenote Tamaché, [17 km north of Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico], on the new road to Progreso”.

PERSONAL NOTES:
I have no personal experience with this species.

CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List status is currently “Least Concern” due to this species’ wide geographic distribution, tolerance for a wide variety of habitats (including those modified my human activity), and presumed stable worldwide population.

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.

RETICULATED SHOVEL-HEADED TREEFROG Triprion spatulatus – Gunther 1882 Triprion spatulatus reticulatus – Taylor 1942

IDENTIFICATION:

DISTRIBUTION: Triprion spatulatus reticulatus is found from northern Nayarit, south along the coastal lowlands of the Pacific to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec of Oaxaca, Mexico. It also ranges through the [...]]]>
Adult Male, 150′, Oaxaca, Mexico

Adult Male, 800′, Colima, Mexico

Calling Male at Temporary Pond, 150′, Oaxaca, Mexico

RETICULATED SHOVEL-HEADED TREEFROG
Triprion spatulatus – Gunther 1882
Triprion spatulatus reticulatus – Taylor 1942

IDENTIFICATION:

DISTRIBUTION:
Triprion spatulatus reticulatus is found from northern Nayarit, south along the coastal lowlands of the Pacific to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec of Oaxaca, Mexico. It also ranges through the arid valley of the Rio Tepalcatepec of the state of Michoacan.

HABITAT:

Pacific Lowland Habitat, 100′, Guerrero, Mexico

NATURAL HISTORY:

TAXONOMY:
Synonymy with Triprion spatulatus by Duellman (1968). The subspecies reticulatus may merely represent a clinal pattern variant of spatulatus and may not be deserving of subspecific status. Future work on the geographic variation within the species should shed light on this subject.

TYPE:
Described as Diaglena reticulata by Taylor (1942). Holotype: USNM 115500. Type locality: “Cerro Arenal, Oaxaca, Mexico”.

PERSONAL NOTES:
I have found this subspecies in Jalisco, Colima, and Oaxaca. In Jalisco we found a single male frog on the highway in the Chamela-Quixmala region on a dry night in August; in 2005 while in Colima a breeding chorus was observed in the swimming pool of an abandoned rancho. In July, 2005 hundreds of Triprion were seen in roadside ponds, ditches and on the highway during a period of heavy thunderstorm activity.

CONSERVATION STATUS:
IUCN Red List status for this species is currently “Least Concern” due to it’s tolerance for a wide variety of habitats (including those altered by humans), large geographic range, and seemingly stable worldwide population.

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.