Adult: Species description based on Ibanez et al (1999). Small frog with plump body and very small head with pointed snout. Males to 24 mm; females to 26 mm. Dorsal: Skin smooth and grey to brown. Appears shiny. Fold of skin present on the head just behind the eyes. Very thin white middorsal line. Ventral: Ventral surface dark and mottled with small white spots. Vocal sac of males dark grey to black. Eye: Iris dark, flecked with gold. Pupil round. Extremities: Hands and feet without webs.
Breeding season: Chiasmocleis breeds explosively during the first half of the rainy season in Panama. Individuals come out in large numbers after very heavy rainstorms (Ibanez et al 1999). Males can be found calling from shallow water, grasping plant stems (Nelson 1972). Egg: Eggs are laid in water (Ibanez et al 1999). Tadpole: Tadpoles are midwater suspension feeders. For a more extensive description of the tadpoles, see Vera Candioti (2006).
Habitat: Fossorial. May be found in open grassy areas or near the edges of small, temporary ponds during the breeding season. Chiasmocleis panamensis is often found in disturbed areas (Nelso 1972). Call: A very high-pitched, short trilled whistle (Nelson 1972). Type locality: Old Panama, Republic of Panama