Agalychnis saltator

Agalychnis saltator is a species of frog in the family Phyllomedusidae. It is found in the Caribbean lowlands from north-eastern Honduras through Nicaragua to east-central Costa Rica at elevations of 15–1,300 m (49–4,265 ft) asl.[1][2] Its common names are parachuting red-eyed leaf frog and misfit leaf frog.[3]

Agalychnis saltator

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Phyllomedusidae
Genus: Agalychnis
Species:
A. saltator
Binomial name
Agalychnis saltator
Taylor, 1955
Synonyms
  • Phyllomedusa saltator (Taylor, 1955)

Description

Male Agalychnis saltator measure 38–44 mm (1.5–1.7 in) and females 52–62 mm (2.0–2.4 in) in snout–vent length.[4] They have distinctive red eyes with vertical pupils. The dorsum is light or dark leaf green with bluish purple flanks. They have large suction disks and extensive webbing between the fingers and toes.[3][4]

Habitat and behaviour

Agalychnis saltator are nocturnal and arboreal.[4] They inhabit lowland and montane humid and wet forests, and to a lesser extent, adjacent premontane wet forests and rainforests. They live in tree canopies, but descend to temporary pools to reproduce.[1] Male frog can leap from considerable heights to plants on the mating sites, extending its limbs and spreading out the skin between its fingers and toes, hence the name "parachuting frog".[3]

Reproduction

Agalychnis saltator are explosive breeders that breed after heavy rains.[3][4] A single breeding aggregation may contain 25–400 frogs (typically 100–200), hanging on vines that overhang temporary ponds in forested areas, and on marsh vegetation (e.g. Spathiphyllum). Most individuals in the aggregation are couples in amplexus, with one female frog being accompanied by one to four males.[4] The eggs are laid amidst mosses covering the vines, but are very vulnerable to predation at this stage.[3][4]

Agalychnis saltator males have also been observed in amplexus with Agalychnis callidryas females. The eggs from such matings are infertile.[4]

Conservation

Agalychnis saltator has a naturally fragmented distribution. It is not particularly common, but it is regularly seen on breeding sites. It is locally suffering from further fragmentation of its habitat because of deforestation from agricultural development and logging. However, it is not threatened on the whole.[1]

Agalychnis saltator is collected for illegal pet trade.[4] It is listed in CITES Appendix II.[1]

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References
  1. Bolaños, F.; Chaves, G.; Savage, J.; Cruz, G.; Wilson, L.D. & Köhler, G. (2008). "Agalychnis saltator". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2015.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Agalychnis saltator Taylor, 1955". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  3. "Agalychnis saltator". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  4. Luis Humberto Elizondo C.; Federico Bolaños V. (2011). "Agalychnis saltator". Biodiversidad de Costa Rica. Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad. Archived from the original on 25 May 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
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