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Family: Hylidae
Splendid Leaf Frog, more...Splendid Leaf Frog (es: Rana, Rana)
[Agalychnis calcarifer Boulenger, 1902] |
Adult: Species description based on Ibanez et al (1999), Duellman (2001) and Savage (2002). A medium-large frog. Males to 64-81 mm, females to 78.5-87 mm. Dorsal: The dorsal surface is a deep green, sometimes with some bluish flecking. The upper arms are yellow-orange, but the rest of the upper limb surfaces are dark green. The dorsal surface is smooth. Ventral: Almost the entire ventral surface is bright orange, except the throat, which is more yellow. The skin of the throat and chest is smooth, but becomes granular on the belly. Concealed surfaces: The sides of the body and inner, upper surfaces of the legs are bright yellow orange with vertical black or purplish barring. Distinguishing characteristics: A prominent flap of skin is present on the heels of this species. Eye: The iris is grey in the center, surrounded by yellow. The pupil is vertical. Extremities: Fingers and toes are fairly short with large terminal toe pads. Webbing is usually moderate. Breeding season: This species breeds year-round after rains (Roberts 1994, Roberts 1995, Marquis et al 1986, Donnelly et al 1987, Caldwell 1994, Myers and Duellman 1982). Individuals call from high up in the canopy, but come down to breed (Marquis et al 1986). Egg: Clutches of 10-54 eggs are laid on vegetation over water-filled pools at the base of trees or in water-filled cavities in fallen logs (Caldwell 1994, Donnelly et al 1986, Savage 2002). The eggs are bluish in color and encased in a rather thick layer of jelly, but change into embryos with yellow-brown yolks as they develop (Donnelly et al 1987). Eggs hatch in 7-10 days, and tadpoles fall into the water below (Caldwell 1994). Eggs have the capacity to hatch up to 30% early to escape risk from threats such as flooding (Gomez-Mestre et al 2008). Tadpole: Tadpoles are dark olive-green (Donnelly et al 1987). The tadpole body is oval-shaped (Donnelly et al 1987). The tail fins are similar in size above and below and not particularly wide (Donnelly et al 1987). Teethrows are two above and three below (Donnelly et al 1987). Cruziohyla calcarifer is unique in that it the papillae on the upper lip extend all the way across (Donnelly et al 1987). See Donnelly et al (1987) for more a extensive description of the tadpole, including illustrations. Metamorph juvenile: Metamorphs are similar in color to the tadpoles dorsally just after emergence (Donnelly et al 1987). The underside is bright orange, except for the throat which is white (Donnelly et al 1987). The eye is intially brown with a rounded pupil (Donnelly et al 1987). Donnelly et al (1987) describe how coloration changes after metamorphosis. Metamorphosis takes over 200 days for lab-reared tadpoles (Donnelly et al 1987). Habitat: Lowland rainforest to 500 m. Ecology: Adults live high in the canopy (Savage 2002, Ibanez et al 1999, Duellman 2001). Cruziohyla calcarifer hatchlings initially grow very rapidly, which helps them avoid being eaten by aquatic insects that cohabit the pools they develop in (Caldwell 1994). The tadpoles are mid-water suspension feeders, but also graze on the bottom and cannibalize smaller conspecifics (Caldwell 1994). Call: A single, low whunk (Marquis et al 1986, Myers and Duellman 1982). Type locality: the Rio Durango, 350 feet (Ecuador) |
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