Hyla of the Pine Woods — Part 2

Hyla femoralis Latreille

Measurements.—Size small, i.e. length 1 inch, slightly more or less. Body relatively long and slender. Length of head variable. The greatest length is presented by the Western and Northern forms (triseriatus and septentrionalis), frogs from the South (nigritus) have a muzzle considerably drawn out, and those from the East (feriarum) are distinguished by relative shortness of the muzzle. Length of legs variable. In the southern and eastern forms (nigritus and feriarum Baird) the length of the leg to the heel equals or slightly exceeds the total length of head and body. In forms at the extreme North (septentrionalis), the legs are unusually short, the length to the heel not equalling the length of body forward to the ear. Those forms intermediate in distribution (triseriatus) have a leg measurement between these two.

Structure.—Skin of upper parts finely tubercular; underparts granular. The head is narrow and pointed. Nostrils much nearer to the tip of the muzzle than to the eye. Muzzle extends beyond the line of the jaw. Ear small, only one-fourth to one-half the diameter of the eye. Eyes widely separated. Long slender toes scarcely webbed. Disks on fingers and toes very small. Inner and outer sole tubercles small; subarticular tubercles present.

Range.—This member of the Hylidae has the widest distribution of any member of its group in North America. It has been reported from every state, with the exception of those of northern New England, and Arizona, northern New York, Michigan, California, Oregon, and Washington. In Canada it extends quite to the Hudson Bay region.

Colour.—Upper parts olive, or dove-gray, or reddish brown. A black band extends from the end of the muzzle on each side through the eye and the ear, backward to the shoulder, and continues (more or less broken into spots) to the thigh. A light blotch on the side of the head above the dark margin of the jaw. There may or may not be elongated spots of dark brown on the back, a triangular spot between the eyes and smaller spots on sides and posterior back. These dark spots, when present, may or may not be margined with light. Undersurfaces light, unspotted, except for a few flecks of dark on the throat. Small yellow spots on the posterior sides, concealed by the thighs. Posterior femur spotted with yellow.

Measurements.—Size small, i. e. length 1 3/4 inches. Head medium in length; its measurements contained slightly more than three times in total measurements Leg short; leg measurement to heel equals length of body forward to ear. Tibia not longer than femur.

Structure.—Skin smooth above, granulated below, less on throat region. Muzzle rounded, extending slightly beyond the line of the jaw. Canthus rostralis rounded. Ear smaller than eye (half diameter). Arms short and stout. Fingers short, dilatations minute. Foot with short web and a small inner sole tubercle.

Range.—Reported from Texas (Helotes and Dallas) and Florida (Green Cove Springs)

Colour.—Chestnut-brown, with an obscure dorsal stripe of darker colour. This stripe extends from the end of the muzzle to the posterior back, forking posteriorly. There is a stripe on each side of this, and a more pronounced one below along the side of the head, through the eyes and ears and along the sides. Upper jaw edged with white; the white line extends backward to a point beyond the shoulder. Outer edge of tibia occupied by a light line set off by darker colour above. Below, yellowish, with obscure spots on breast and throat.

Measurements.—Size small, i. e. length 1 inch or less. Legs long, length to heel equalling or exceeding the total length of the frog. Tibia longer than femur.

Structure.—Skin smooth. Head pointed; eyes large; ear small, less than half diameter of eye.

Range.—Specimens are from Charleston, South Carolina.

Colour.—Brownish olive or grey, with closely set dark brown spots. Spots rounded, those on the head and anterior and middle back may be elongated transversely. Colour surrounding the elongated spots of the top of the head bright salmon-pink. The bright colour of the middle back extends at right and left on the sides, and is conspicuous also on the elbows, so that there is produced the effect of a pink band across the middle of the back. Many small irregular dark spots on the front and sides of the head; rounded dark spots on the posterior back. One especially conspicuous dark spot under the eye widens downward to the line of the jaw. Arms and legs irregularly barred and spotted with dark. Iris bronze. Underparts greyish white, somewhat spotted along the jaw and on the breast.

Measurements.—Size relatively large, i. e. length may reach 3 1/2 inches. Head relatively long, its length contained in total length two and a half times. Head wider than long. Leg not long; its length to the heel equals the length of the body forward to the ear or the eye. Tibia as long as femur. Forearm unusually long. Length of fingers in order from the shortest, 2-1-4-3. Length of toes from the shortest, 1-2-5-3-4.