AMPHIBIANS OF BELIZE 18 April 2008 SALAMANDERS ORDER

AMPHIBIANS OF BELIZE 18 April 2008

SALAMANDERS – ORDER CAUDATA Mostly occur in the north temperate regions Only 1 family occurs in the New World Tropics Plethodontidae – the lungless salamanders Respire through skin/mucous membranes Mostly forest dwellers, not very aquatic Smooth, moist skin Four appendages, tail

MEXICAN SALAMANDER Bolitoglossa mexicana a. k. a. “Black-and-gold salamander” Moderately large (150 mm) Toes fully webbed Yellow/rust spots Inactive during dry periods Found in rotten logs, etc. http: //www. uta. edu/biology/campb ell/herpetology/ccampbell 3. jpg

RUFESCENT SALAMANDER Bolitoglossa rufescens a. k. a. “Common dwarf salamander” Small species (65 mm) Digits fully webbed Pale brown/tan Dark brown streak behindhttp: //calphotos. berkeley. edu/imgs/12 8 x 192/1111_1111/5203. jpeg eyes to mid-back http: //calphotos. berkeley. edu/imgs/128 x 192/1111_1111/7803. jpeg

TOADS AND FROGS – ORDER ANURA “Jumping and hopping” amphibians Hind limbs elongate and well-developed Males with vocal slits External fertilization (in most anurans) In all Belizean toads/frogs Habitat use and appearance determine whether it is called a frog or a toad

FAMILY BUFONIDAE - TOADS “True toads” Occur in most tropical and sub-tropical areas Usually squat-bodied Hopping rather than jumping Skin warty, glandular, dry to the touch Parotoid glands behind eyes

MARINE TOAD (CANE TOAD) Bufo marinus a. k. a. “Giant toad” Large toad (150 mm) Sexually dimorphic Males http: //www. epa. qld. gov. au/images/nature_c onservation/cane_toad. jpg reddish with spiny tubercles Females pale grey/mottled with rounded tubercles http: //fl. biology. usgs. gov/herps/Frogs_and_ Toads/B_marinus/Bufo_marinus. jpg

GULF COAST TOAD Bufo valliceps Moderate size (70 mm) Large triangular parotoid glands Skin warty, rough http: //www. palaeos. com/Vertebrates/Units/ Unit 180/Images/Bufo. Valliceps. jpg Coloration variable Class photo http: //www. hartmanprehistoricgarden. com/sp-bufo 1. jpg

FAMILY LEPTODACTYLIDAE – RAINFROGS Chirping, climbing, foam, leaf-litter, and stream frogs Widespread in Americas Large variety Large to small Smooth skinned to warty, toad-like Genus Eleutherodactylus contains >500 spp. Largest genus of tetrapods

BROAD-HEADED RAINFROG Eleutherodactylus laticeps Broad-headed leaf-litter frog Dorso-lateral glandular ridges 50 -80 mm Small toe discs Minor webbing between toes http: //portal. isis. org/partners/AARK/YOTF% 20 Campaign%20 Pack%20 images/Eleuther odactylus%20 cf%20 suetus, %20 Ranas, %2 0 Francisco%20 José%20 López. jpg

MAYA RAINFROG Eleutherodactylus chac “Chac’s leaf-litter frog” X or hourglass shape http: //piclib. nhm. ac. uk/piclib/webimages/0/2 9000/0/29094_sml. jpg on back 30 mm Variable color http: //web. viu. ca/belize/images/amphibian%20 images/mayanfrogsmall. JPG

CENTRAL AMERICAN RAINFROG Eleutherodactylus rugulosus “Long-legged stream frog” 50 mm Well-developed toe pads Interorbital bar Found near streams http: //www. weimer-eurprobiol. de/frog 37. jpg

BLACK-BACKED FROG Leptodactylus melanonotus “Fringe-toed foamfrog” Color highly variable Thick glandular skin http: //www. eitangrunwald. com/CR 703/CR 7 03 Web 2/7705 Eleutherodactylus_sp. jpg 40 mm Class photo http: //www. puce. edu. ec/zoologia/vertebrados/amphibiawebec/especies/anura/lepto dactylidae/melanonotus 29621_g. gif

WHITE-LIPPED FOAMFROG Leptodactylus labialis Class photos Two phases (white, red)

TÚNGARA FROG Physalaemus pustulosus Extremely tuberculate skin Resembles some toads 30 mm Lacks toe pads Dorsal mottling variable http: //www. uta. edu/biology/campbell/herpet ology/acampbell 32. jpg

FAMILY HYLIDAE – TREEFROGS Americas, Greatest Europe, Asia, Australia… diversity in Americas Adaptations Large for arboreality finger discs Much cartilage between last 2 phalanges

RED-EYED LEAF FROG Agalychnis callidryas Bright red iris; bright green/yellow body pattern Widespread, abundant 60 mm Pointed snout Long, slender limbs Walk, Vertical not leap pupils Class photo

MORELET’S LEAF FROG Agalychnis moreletii Dorsum leaf green, venter cream/yellow Iris deep purple/black Restricted distribution 65 mm Slender limbs Large toe pads Vertical pupils http: //www. arkive. org/media/89/896 F 89 F 6 -670 C-4 B 57 A 0 E 4 -7 A 44373 A 2 F 12/Presentation. Large/photo. jpg

BROMELIAD TREEFROG Hyla bromeliacia Dorsum pale brown, black flecks Snout pointed Skin smooth Large toe pads Partial webbing 30 mm http: //www. authenticmaya. com/images/Hyla_bromeliacia_small. jpg

VARIEGATED TREEFROG Hyla ebraccata “Hourglass treefrog” 30 mm Snout truncate Smooth skin Forearms robust Large toe pads Partial webbing http: //fireflyforest. net/firefly/2007/ 06/09/hourglass-treefrog/

RED-FOOTED TREEFROG Hyla loquax “Loquacious treefrog” Snout broadly rounded http: //users. dickinson. edu/~bob 40 mm acks/photos/loqax. jpg Toes webbed (nearly fully) Dorsum variable with flecks http: //www. rarimages. com/Belize. Images/Amphib Iris reddish tan ians/tn_Mahogany. Treefrog(Hyla_loquax)1001. jp g

YELLOW (CRICKET) TREEFROG Hyla microcephala Snout somewhat pointed 25 mm Partial webbing Dark dorsal markings form H or X Venter mostly white http: //www. uta. edu/biology/campbell/herpet ology/acampbell 24. jpg

CRICKET TREEFROG Hyla picta “Painted treefrog” Snout rounded Toe pads small 20 mm Yellowish with dark flecks Stripe from snout through eye http: //www. andrewgray. com/projectanuran/ Species. Pages/Hyla%20 picta. htm

PEPPER TREEFROG Phrynohyas venulosa “Milky treefrog” 90 mm Large toe pads Partial webbing Pale brown with dark blotches Chin, throat, belly white Class photo

STAUFFER’S (LONGNOSED) TREEFROG Scinax staufferi 25 mm Snout pointed and protruding Vestigial webbing Stripe through eye Pale brown dorsum White, cream venter Class photo

MEXICAN TREEFROG Smilisca baudinii Baudin’s treefrog 65 mm Loud, raucous call Smooth skin Large digital pads Irregular dorsal splotches Class photo

BLUE-SPOTTED TREEFROG Smilisca cyanosticta 60 mm Snout rounded Smooth skin Limbs long, robust Coloring variable with environment Time of day, temp. http: //www. uta. edu/biology/campbell/herpet ology/acampbell 28. jpg

(YUCATAN) CASQUE-HEADED TREEFROG Triprion petasatus Unusual head shape Skin co-ossified 60 mm Dark green with dark flecks Transverse bars on limbs Iris gold http: //www. dkimages. com/discover/preview s/936/15005809. JPG http: //www. uta. edu/biology/campbell/herpet ology/acampbell 29. jpg

FAMILY CENTROLENIDAE – GLASSFROGS Thin, translucent skin covering the belly Finger/toe pads Superficially Pupil resemble treefrogs (Hylidae) horizontal

FLEISCHMANN'S GLASS FROG Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni “Northern glassfrog” 22 mm Iris gold Dark melanophores on dorsum Class photos

INFORMATION COMPILED FROM… Campbell – Amphibians and Reptiles of Northern Guatemala, the Yucatan and Belize. Beletsky – Travellers’ Wildlife Guides – Belize and Northern Guatemala.