The Systematics of the Frogs of the Hyla Rubra Group in Middle America

The book opens by introducing the vibrant tree frogs of the Hyla rubra group, a clade that thrives from the lowlands of Mexico down to Argentina and reaches its peak diversity in southeastern Brazil. It explains how these amphibians likely originated in South America before a few lineages crossed into Middle America after the late‑Pliocene closure of the Colombian Portal. Readers are guided through a concise history of earlier researchers and the confusing maze of names that has surrounded these species for over a century.

Drawing on more than a thousand preserved specimens, dozens of skeletons, and a rich collection of tadpoles, the author weaves together detailed morphology, cranial osteology, and the distinctive mating calls recorded in the field. Alongside careful keys for identification, the work paints a vivid picture of each frog’s habitat, behavior, and distribution, offering a clear window into the evolutionary pathways that shaped Middle America’s most conspicuous amphibians.