Morphological Variation in Hemiphractus Fasciatus (Anura: Hylidae: Hemiphractinae)

Abstract

We describe morphological variation within the species Hemiphractus fasciatus, with special focus on populations in Panama, and determined the two allopatric populations are morphologically distinct, suggesting that there are at least two species involved in this system... The distinct groups are from eastern and western Panama, with the Panama Canal as the divider. Recent genetic analysis suggested there are three genetically distinct groups within H. fasciatus. The western specimens can be distinguished by cranial morphology, the texture of the skin under the throat.