Itapotihyla

Itapotihyla is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Itapotihyla langsdorffii, commonly known as the ocellated treefrog.[2] It is found in the Atlantic Forest biome of Brazil, with an isolated population in eastern Paraguay and adjacent Brazil and northeastern Argentina.[3]

"Ocellated treefrog" redirects here. For other uses, see Ocellated treefrog (disambiguation).

Itapotihyla
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Subfamily: Lophyohylinae
Genus: Itapotihyla
Faivovich, Haddad, Garcia, Frost, Campbell, and Wheeler, 2005
Species:
I. langsdorffii
Binomial name
Itapotihyla langsdorffii
(Duméril & Bibron, 1841)
Synonyms
  • Hyla langsdorffii Duméril and Bibron, 1841

Description

Itapotihyla langsdorffii are relatively large treefrogs. They show sexual dimorphism, with females (mean snout-vent length 103 mm (4.1 in)) being larger than males (81 mm (3.2 in)).[4]

Reproduction

Reproduction takes place in temporary and permanent pools inside rainforest.[1] It is an explosive breeder with a mean brood size of over 6000 eggs. Breeding is associated with intense vocalization by males.[4] In addition to vocalization, male–male interactions may involve grabbing and pushing[4] and even direct physical combat. This kind of behaviour is more common in species where males are larger than females (see sexual selection in frogs).[5]

Trophic interactions

Its diet mainly consists of arthropods (in particular grasshoppers and crickets), but also vertebrate remains (other frogs including Physalaemus crombiei and Scinax argyreornatus as well as unidentified bird feathers) can be found in their stomach contents.[4] These frogs themselves may be preyed upon by Chironius bicarinatus, a colubrid snake.[6]

Habitat and conservation

Itapotihyla langsdorffii is an arboreal frog occurring on shrubs and trees inside rainforest. It is restricted to pristine habitats. Itapotihyla langsdorffii is locally abundant in suitable habitats in Brazil. The Paraguayan population is assumed to be in decline because of habitat loss and possibly seriously threatened; however, at the species level it is not considered threatened.

References
  1. Aquino, Lucy; Segalla, Magno Vicente; Faivovich, Julian; Baldo, Diego (2004). "Itapotihyla langsdorffii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T55796A11358140. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T55796A11358140.en.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Itapotihyla Faivovich, Haddad, Garcia, Frost, Campbell, and Wheeler, 2005". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Itapotihyla langsdorffii (Duméril and Bibron, 1841)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  4. Vrcibradic, D.; Teixeira, R. R. L.; Borges-Júnior, V. N. T. (2009). "Sexual dimorphism, reproduction and diet of the casque-headed treefrog Itapotihyla langsdorffii (Hylidae: Lophiohylini)". Journal of Natural History. 43 (35–36): 2245–2256. doi:10.1080/00222930903015824.
  5. Maffei, Fábio; Ubaid, Flávio Kulaif & Jim, Jorge (2011). "Itapotihyla langsdorffii (casque-headed treefrog): Male combat" (PDF). Herpetological Bulletin. 116: 35–37.
  6. Bovo, Rafael Parelli; Sueiro, Letícia Ruiz (2012). "Records of predation on Itapotihyla langsdorffii (Anura: Hylidae) by Chironius bicarinatus (Serpentes: Colubridae) with notes on foraging substrate" (PDF). Herpetology Notes. 5: 291–292.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.