Cloud Forest Treefrog vs Variegated Treefrog

Megastomatohyla nubicola compared with Megastomatohyla mixomaculata

Key Differences

• Cloud Forest Treefrog is Critically Endangered while Variegated Treefrog is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cloud Forest Treefrog	Variegated Treefrog
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Amphibia (amphibien)	Amphibia (amphibien)
Order same	Anura (anoures)	Anura (anoures)
Family same	Hylidae	Hylidae
Genus same	Megastomatohyla	Megastomatohyla
Species	Megastomatohyla nubicola	Megastomatohyla mixomaculata

Evolutionary Relationship

Cloud Forest Treefrog and Variegated Treefrog share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Megastomatohyla.

Conservation Status

Cloud Forest Treefrog

CR — Critically Endangered

Variegated Treefrog

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cloud Forest Treefrog	Variegated Treefrog
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cloud Forest Treefrog

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Nearctic and Neotropic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Mexico. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Variegated Treefrog

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Range

Found in Mexico. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Cloud Forest Treefrog

Cloud forest treefrogs in the genus Megastomatohyla (family Hylidae) are medium to large arboreal frogs native to the montane cloud forests of Mexico and Guatemala, inhabiting humid highland forests at elevations between 1,500 and 2,800 meters. These treefrogs have large adhesive toe pads, long limbs adapted for climbing, and typically green or brown coloration with cryptic patterns matching lichen-covered bark and leaves. They breed in temporary and permanent pools in forest clearings and at stream margins, with males calling from vegetation over water on rainy nights. Larvae develop in small forest pools. The genus Megastomatohyla was separated from the large genus Hyla based on molecular and morphological studies distinguishing Middle American cloud forest specialists from their lowland relatives. Several species in this genus have experienced significant population declines attributed to chytridiomycosis in combination with habitat loss, and some are now considered Critically Endangered or Endangered. The montane cloud forests of Mexico and Guatemala harbor exceptional amphibian diversity but face deforestation pressures from agricultural expansion, charcoal production, and illegal logging that continue to reduce amphibian habitat area.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇲🇽 Mexico