The milky tree frog is a population of frogs in the family Hylidae that is native to Mexico, Central America, Ecuador, and Venezuela. It is not currently recognized as a single, formally described species; instead, it is treated as a placeholder taxon pending further taxonomic resolution. The Amphibian Species of the World database uses the provisional scientific name Trachycephalus “vermiculatus” (Cope, 1887) for this group, indicating that the frogs historically assigned to Trachycephalus typhonius have been re‑evaluated and may represent one or several distinct species.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Amphibia
- Order: Anura
- Family: Hylidae
- Genus: Trachycephalus
- Species (placeholder): Trachycephalus “vermiculatus”
Synonyms previously applied to members of this group include:
- Hyla vermiculatus (Duméril & Bibron, 1841)
- Hyla spilomma (Cope, 1877)
- Hyla paenulata (Brocchi, 1879)
- Hyla nigropunctata (Boulenger, 1882)
- Acronytes inflata (Taylor, 1944)
- Acronytes spilomma (Taylor, 1944)
- Acronytes modesta (Taylor & Smith, 1945)
- Phrynohyas spp. (Duellman, 1956–1957)
Common Names
The milky tree frog is known by several English common names, reflecting its varied appearance and regional usage:
- Veined tree frog
- Common tree frog
- Warty tree frog
- Marbled tree frog
- Vein‑eyed glue frog
- Amazon tree frog
- Pepper tree frog
Distribution and Habitat
Populations referred to as the milky tree frog occur across a broad range that includes the tropical and subtropical lowlands and foothills of Mexico, the Central American countries, and parts of the northern Andes in Ecuador and Venezuela. The frogs are arboreal, typically inhabiting forested environments where they can be found in trees and vegetation near water sources.
Taxonomic Uncertainty
The designation Trachycephalus “vermiculatus” is a provisional label used to group together frogs that were once considered part of Trachycephalus typhonius but have since been recognized as distinct. Ongoing morphological and genetic studies are required to determine whether this population represents a single species or multiple cryptic species.
References
- Amphibian Species of the World 6.0, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Entry for Trachycephalus “vermiculatus” (Cope, 1887).
- Wikipedia contributors. “Milky tree frog.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed 2024.
This entry reflects current scientific understanding as of the latest available sources and does not include speculative information.