One of the most distinctive phyletic lines among the diverse Neotropical hylid frogs is composed of a group of 40 species placed in the genus Phyllomedusa (Funkhouser, 1957) or in two or three different genera (Goin, 1961; Lutz, 1966). These species differ from all other Neotropical hylids by possessing a vertical, instead of horizontal, pupil. The only other hylids having a vertical pupil belong to the Papuan genus Nyctimystes . Goin (1961) erroneously stated that Nyctimantis and Triprion have

Phyllomedusidae Günther 1859 [Type genus, Phyllomedusa Wagler, 1830]. Definition. —Moderately small to large hylids having vertical pupils, n =13 (2 n =26) chromosomes, skin containing large amounts of powerful bradykinin-like and physalaemin-like polypeptides, eggs suspended from vegetation above water, and tadpoles have a ventral spiracle sinistral to midline. Range. —Low and moderate elevations in South and Middle America, including Trinidad, from northern Argentina and northwestern Ecuador t

Agalychnis Cope, 1864 [Type species, Hyla moreletii Duméril, 1853, by subsequent designation]. Definition. —Fingers and toes at least half webbed; terminal discs large; first toe shorter than second and not opposable to others; skin smooth, lacking osteoderms; parotoid glands, if present, poorly developed and diffuse; palpebral membrane reticulate (except in A. calcarifer ); iris red or yellow; skull shallow, depth less than 40 per cent of length; nasals large; frontoparietal fontanelle large; q

Type species, Agalychnis dacnicolor Cope, 1864. Definition. —Fingers and toes having basal webs and lateral fringes; terminal discs large; first toe shorter than second and not opposable to others; skin smooth or shagreened, lacking osteoderms; paratoid glands present, diffuse; palpebral membrane reticulate; iris golden yellow with black reticulations; skull deep, depth more than 50 per cent of length; nasals large; frontoparietal fontanelle moderately large; quadratojugal robust; prevomerine te

Phyllomedusa Wagler, 1830 [Type species, Rana bicolor Boddaert, 1772]. Pithecopus Cope, 1866 [Type species, Phyllomedusa azurea Cope, 1862 (= Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis Daudin, 1803), by original designation]. Hylomantis Peters, 1872 [Type species Hylomantis aspera Peters, 1872, by monotypy]. Phrynomedusa Miranda-Ribeiro, 1923 [Type species, Phrynomedusa fimbriata Miranda-Ribeiro, 1923, by subsequent designation]. Bradymedusa Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 [Type species, Bradymedusa moschada Miranda-Ri

Noble (1931) considered the species of Phyllomedusa having opposable digits, reduced terminal discs, and no webbing to be advanced and such species as Agalychnis moreleti , calcarifer , and spurrelli to be primitive. Funkhouser (1957) followed Noble's suggestion and attempted to explain the evolution of the species of Phyllomedusa ( sensu lato ) by assuming that they evolved from an advanced Hyla -like ancestor. Therefore, she placed those species having large, fully webbed hands and feet near t

I am grateful to Linda Trueb who provided the osteological data included, and who helped me in formulating some of the ideas expressed in the discussion. This paper is a result of investigations on hylid frogs supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF-GB-5818)....

Bokermann, W. C. A. 1966. A new Phyllomedusa from southeastern Brazil. Herpetologica, 22:293-297. Cei, J.M. 1963. Some precipitin tests and preliminary remarks on the systematic relationships of four South American families of frogs. Bull. Serological Mus., 30:4-6. Cei, J.M. and V. Erspamer 1966. Biochemical taxonomy of South American amphibians by means of skin amines and polypeptides. Copeia, no. 1:74-8. Cochran, D. M. 1955. Frogs of southeastern Brazil. Bull. U.S. Natl. Mus., 206; xvi + 423 p