Most variation in coloration does not seem to be correlated with geography. The lips are strongly barred in specimens from throughout the range of the species, except that in some specimens from southern Nicaragua and Costa Rica the lips are pale and in some specimens the vertical bars are indistinct. Six specimens from 7.3 kilometers southwest of Matatán, Sinaloa, are distinctively marked. The dorsum is uniformly grayish green with the only dorsal marks being on the tarsi; canthal and post-tympanic dark marks absent. A broad white labial stripe is present and interrupted by a single vertical dark mark below the eye. A white stripe is present on the outer edge of the foot. The flanks and posterior surfaces of the thighs are creamy white, boldly marked with black. Two specimens from Alta Verapaz, Guatemala (CNHM 21006 from Cobán and UMMZ 90908 from Finca Canihor), are distinctive in having many narrow transverse bands on the limbs and fine reticulations on the flanks. Two specimens from Limón Province, Costa Rica (KU 34927 from Batán and 36789 from Suretka), lack a dorsal pattern; instead these specimens are nearly uniform brown above and have only a few small dark brown spots on the back and lack transverse bands on the limbs. The post-tympanic dark marks and dark mottling on the flanks are absent. Specimens lacking the usual dorsal markings are known from scattered localities on the Caribbean lowlands from Guatemala to Costa Rica.
The coloration in life is highly variable; much of the apparent variation is due to metachrosis, for individuals of _Smilisca baudini_ are capable of undergoing drastic and rapid change in coloration. When active at night the frogs usually are pale bright green with olive-green markings, olive-green with brown markings, or pale brown with dark brown markings. The dark markings on the back and dorsal surfaces of the limbs are narrowly outlined by black. The pale area below the eye and just posterior to the broad suborbital dark bar is creamy white, pale green, or ashy gray in life. The presence of this mark is an excellent character by which to identify juveniles of the species. The flanks are creamy yellow, or yellow with brown or black mottling. In most individuals the belly is white, but in specimens from southern El Petén and northern Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, the belly is yellow, especially posteriorly. The iris varies from golden bronze to dull bronze with black reticulations, somewhat darker ventrally.