Browsing by Subject "Hylidae"
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Item Geographic Variation in Brazillian Species of Hyla(Texas Memorial Museum, The University of Texas at Austin, 1968-10) Lutz, BerthaUntil now, practically all Brazilian species of Hyla have been described or discussed exclusively under the nominative form, without regard for geographical variation. The subspecies is almost unknown in the systematics of Brazilian frogs. This paper is concerned with local variation in two difficult groups, that of Hyla catharinae and of the species Hyla polytaenia. Variation becomes apparent on extension of the known distribution, going from altitudinal forms to subspecies in isolated or peripheral parts of the range. Altitudinal variation was first pointed out by the author (1952) for Hyla circumdata Cope when specimens of this montane coastal species were collected above 1,800 meters on the Itatiaia Mountains. They were robust, and lacking the specific pattern of dark violet circles on a lighter blue-violet background on thigh parts which were concealed in repose. These colors were substituted by a uniform purplish-black, or slate colored surface. A new subspecies was not set up because some robust specimens from slightly lower elevations at Itatiaia, and elsewhere, showed vestiges of the circles.Item Taxonomy of the Neotropical Hylidae(Texas Memorial Museum, The University of Texas at Austin, 1968-11) Lutz, BerthaThe Hylidae are arciferous, procoelian frogs, generally having maxillary teeth. Presumably derived from bufonid stock (Noble, 1931), one of the distinctive features of the family is the cartilage intercalated between the penultimate and the terminal phalanx of the digits, which is claw-shaped and swollen at the base. The digits usually terminate in expanded disks which, together with the intercalary cartilage, subserve the function of climbing. Although most of the members of this family are tree frogs, some are aquatic in the adult stage; others are phragmotic, resting upright in cavities of the right size, and plugging the lumen with the head. A number are bromelicolous, and one or two live in giant bamboos, having water-holding septa. One genus is fossorial.