Bulletin - United States National Museum - Smithsonian Institution

22 BULLETIN 17 7, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
After they have reached the moimtain pool, they grow into thicktailed,
large-mouthed tadpoles having no back fin. The mature
larva in its adhesive mouth and slim body form is well adapted to life
in a mountain stream.
Relationships.—Although one might be inclined to believe at first
glance that the closest relative of Hyla vasta is the equally large
Hyla lichenata of the neighboring island of Jamaica, examinations of
the life history of the two species lead to different conclusions. All
the Jamaican frogs lay their eggs in bromeliads, whUe all the Hispaniolan
ones go through the normal procedure of depositing eggs in
streams, as Dr. Dunn points out. Dr. Noble believes that Hyla
vasta is related to some basin-breeding species on the mainland of
South America, possibly to Hyla rosenbergi.
Specimens examined.—As listed m table 6.
Tab