Editorial Type:
Article Category: Article Commentary
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Online Publication Date: 01 Dec 2006

On “Hyla” Chlorostea Reynolds and Foster, 1992, a Hylid of Uncertain Relationships, with Some Comments on Hyloscirtus (Anura: Hylidae)

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Page Range: 785 – 791
DOI: 10.1643/0045-8511(2006)6[785:OHCRAF]2.0.CO;2
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Abstract

We present morphological evidence that supports the placement of “Hyla” chlorostea Reynolds and Foster, 1992 (previously of uncertain affinities) in the Hyloscirtus armatus group. Also we continue to recognize it as a valid species, pending a revision of populations currently associated with the name Hyloscirtus armatus. Furthermore, we report the presence of a mental gland in adult males of the H. armatus group. Given that the presence of a mental gland is the only putative synapomorphy for the Hyloscirtus bogotensis group, its presence in the H. armatus group raises concerns about the monophyly of the former group.

Copyright: 2006 by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
Figure 1
Figure 1

Holotype of “Hyla” chlorostea (USNM 257811, SVL 38.6).

Bar  =  5 mm. (A) Dorsal view. (B) Ventral view. (C) Head profile. (D) Detail of tarsal fold of left hindlimb.

Figure 2
Figure 2

Views of the fold in the proximoventral portion of the upper arm in different specimens.

The arrows point to the limits of the fold. The bar equals 5 mm. (A) Hyloscirtus charazani, male with humeral spiny patch in early stages of development (AMNH 165137, SVL 55.5). (B) Hyloscirtus charazani, male with fully developed secondary sexual characters (AMNH 165138, SVL 70.7). (C) Hyloscirtus charazani, female (AMNH 165140, SVL 70.2). (D) “Hyla” chlorostea, holotype (USNM 257811, SVL 38.6).

Figure 3
Figure 3

Dorsal views of the preorbital ridge. Bar  =  10 mm.

(A) “Hyla” chlorostea, holotype (USNM 257811, SVL 38.6). (B) Hyloscirtus armatus (USNM 346319, SVL 31.2).

Figure 4
Figure 4

The mental gland in species of the Hyloscirtus armatus group.

Bars  =  5 mm. (A) Hyloscirtus charazani. External aspect of the gland in a male with fully developed secondary sexual characters (AMNH 165138, SVL 70.7). (B) Hyloscirtus armatus. The gland as seen through a superficial dissection exposing the internal aspect of the gular skin (AMNH 157007, SVL 56.5).

Contributor Notes

(JF) DIVISION OF VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY (HERPETOLOGY), AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 7979th STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10024;

Received: 07 Nov 2005
Accepted: 07 Jun 2006
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