Taxonomy

Species ID	020350
Name	Small-headed treefrog
Other Common Names
Category	02 Amphibians
Phylum
Subphylum
Class	Amphibia
Subclass
Suborder
Family	Hylidae
Genus	Hyla
Species	microcephala
Subspecies
References	2

Comments

2* H. M. Smith (1951) considered the populations of this species in southern Mexico and Guatemala to be subspecifically distinct from those to the south and applied the name H. m. martini to them. Duellman and Fouquette (1968) argued that only a single subspecies occurs north of Costa Rica, and they placed H. m. martini in the synonymy of H. m. underwoodi, the subspecies found in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Distribution

DISTRICT	References
Belize, Belize	1
Cayo, Belize	1
Corozal, Belize	1
Orange Walk, Belize	1
Stann Creek, Belize	1
Toledo, Belize	1

Administrative Unit	Occurrence	Abundance	Temporal	References
Caracol Archaeological Reserve	Photographed	Unknown, insufficient data	June	3
Government land				1
Shipstern Nature Reserve				1
Rio Bravo Conservation Area				1
Altun Ha Archaeological Reserve				1
Private land, see comments				1
Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (Private)				1
Slate Creek Preserve				1
Manatee Forest Reserve				1
Caracol Archaeological Reserve				1
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve				1
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary				1
Chiquibul National Park				1
Chiquibul Forest Reserve				1
Bladen Nature Reserve				1
Deep River Forest Reserve				1

ELEVATION Association	References
401-600 m	3

QUAD Distribution	References
16 45' to 17 00'; 89 00' to 89 15'	3
17 45' to 18 00'; 88 15' to 88 30'	1
17 30' to 17 45'; 88 10' to 88 30'	1
18 15' to 18 30'; 88 15' to 88 30'	1
17 15' to 17 30'; 88 30' to 88 45'	1
17 00' to 17 15'; 88 45' to 89 00'	1
17 00' to 17 15'; 88 30' to 88 45'	1
17 00' to 17 15'; 88 00' to 88 30'	1
16 45' to 17 00'; 89 00' to 89 15'	1
16 45' to 17 00'; 88 45' to 89 00'	1
18 15' to 18 30'; 88 00' to 88 15'	1
16 45' to 17 00'; 88 15' to 88 30'	1
16 30' to 16 45'; 89 00' to 89 15'	1
16 30' to 16 45'; 88 45' to 89 00'	1
16 15' to 16 30'; 88 45' to 89 00'	1
16 15' to 16 30'; 88 30' to 88 45'	1
18 00' to 18 15'; 88 30' to 88 45'	1
17 45' to 18 00'; 89 00' to 89 15'	1

Holdridge Life Zone Distribution	References
Subtropical moist	3

Comments on Distribution

3* Miller, C.M. (1991).  Natural history voucher photograph collection,
   Caracol Arch. Reserve.

Habitat Associations

Food Habits

Trophic

INSECTIVORE

References on Trophic Level

2

Comments on General Food Habits

2* These little frogs are nocturnal, insectivorous, and largely arboreal.

References/Lifestage	Reference Numbers
General	2

Environmental Associations

References/Lifestage	Reference Numbers

Life History

Life History Narrative

In the Yucatan Peninsula this abundant frog is most frequently encountered in disturbed habitats, where large choruses of calling males form during the rainy season. The species is apparently uncommon or absent from deep primary forest. Instead, roadside ditches, puddles, and low, flooded areas in pastures are often used for breeding. These little frogs are nocturnal, insectivorous, and largely arboreal. Males call from emergent vegetation and from shrubs and small trees adjacent to water. Enormous breeding aggregations are common, with many hundreds of males calling. Reproduction in the Yucatan Peninsula is closely tied to the rainy season, although elsewhere the species may breed throughout the year. Amplexus is axillary. The eggs are deposited directly into the water, where the eggs hatch and the larvae undergo development.

Life History References

2

Management Practices

References/Result	Reference Numbers

References

1  Meerman, J., 1994. Summary of Herpetofauna Distributions in Belize.
   Report to National Protected Areas Management Project.

2  Lee, Julian C. 1996. The Amphibians and Reptiles of the Yucatan
   Peninsula. Comstock Publishing Associates. Ithaca, New York.

3  Miller, C.M. 1992.  Natural history voucher photograph collection.