Regresar

Phyllomedusa ecuatoriana Cannatella (Amphibia: Hylidae): Variation, description of the tadpole, vocalization and notes on the natural history

Abstract:

Information is presented on morphological variation in the frog, Phyllomedusa ecuatoriana, with a description ot the tadpole, vocalizations, and notes on its natural history and distribution, based on material recently collected in the Cordillera del Cóndor, Zamora Chinchipe Province, Ecuador. Phyllomedusa ecuatoriana is of médium size (male SVL length 46.1 to 55.4 mm; female SVL 72.2 mm). The tapole (Gosner stage 26) has a dentary formula of 2 (2)/3 (1); tooth row P3 is smaller than P1 and P2. The tadpoles develop in pools of various sizes in turbid water stained by the presence of tanins. The vocalizations are modulated frequencies, with the dominant frequency averaging 1.53 kHz; the calls are composed of a single note and 2-3 pulses. Adult frogs feed primarily on spiders (20[%]) of the family Argiopidae.