The Veined Treefrog (Trachycephalus vermiculatus) is a large species of neotropical treefrog found from central Mexico down to the central regions of South America. They are large frogs often with very beautiful patterns. Interestingly, like all members of the genus Trachycephalus, this species of frog has green bones.
If you are looking in a field guide for Mexico or Central America, you might see this same species under the scientific name Phrynohyas venulosus or Trachycephalus venulosus or Trachycephalus typhonius. Those had been their scientific names throughout their taxonomic history until a recent revision of the typhonius group showed that the name this northern population wasits own species and the name vermiculatus pre-dated the name venulosus. Therefore under the rules of taxonomic nomenclature Trachycephalus vermiculatus had precedence.
However, this group of frogs is still a mess. Some authorities still say all the Mexican, Central American and Guinanan shield populations belong in T. typhonius. And regardless of the correct name, this "species" is probably a group of species all lumped together. The "real" T. vermiculatus (or typhonius?) is probably restricted to the Guianan shield in South America, so these Mexican species are probably something different? And then there is the issue of there being an isolated population on the West Coast of Mexico that may not be the same species as the Yucatecan form I am discussing. . Confused? How about we just call them Veined Treefrogs?
Here's a range map from iNaturalist showing the "whole species" range.
The old specific epithet "venulosus" is a reference to the numerous glands on the frog's back from which it secretes a sticky white toxin when disturbed. Lots of frog species secrete similar toxins, but the Veined Treefrog has taken this skill to a whole new level. Just handling one for a few seconds can leave your hands gummed up for hours. It must take a very persistent predator to swallow one of these sticky frogs. This ability has given some of the South American relatives of this frog the name "Milk Frog". Here's what my hands looked like after holding one of these frogs for just a few seconds!
I have seen this species of frog many times in the past, but only once have I had my recording gear with me while they were calling. And I didn't get a very good recording so I decided not to upload that one to iNaturalist until I got a better one. That was 8 years ago. I decided that I might as well upload this species now in the hope that this would give me a chance to get better recordings this year when I travel to Belize. As a lifelong birder, I know the old adage that the first one is the hardest one to get. Once you see the first one of any species, you will start seeing them everywhere. 😏
So this recording was made in June of 2017 in on the northern boundaries of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Campeche, Yucatan. It had rained very hard in this area earlier in the day and lots of frog species were calling. I pointed my microphone out into the marshes and recorded many species, including a distant chorus of Veined Treefrogs. I have brought out the Veined Treefrogs in this recording and reduced the gain for all the other species.
The call of this species is a deep "roon". It is remniscent of the call of the American Bullfrog and a large chorus of these Veined Treefrogs does sound a bit like that species. The two species do not overlap in range though.
The other species heard in this recording include Stauffer's Treefrog, Mexican Treefrog and the Sheep Frog.
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