Chacophrys

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Chacophrys
Chacophrys pierotti.jpg
Chacophrys pierotti
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ceratophryidae
Genus: Chacophrys
Reig & Limeses, 1963
Species:
C. pierottii
Binomial name
Chacophrys pierottii
(Vellard, 1948)

Chacophrys pierottii, the Chaco horned frog or lesser Chini frog, is a species of frog in the family Ceratophryidae. [2] It is monotypic within the genus Chacophrys. [3] It is found in the Chaco of northern Argentina, eastern Bolivia, and western Paraguay. Its natural habitats are dry shrubland and gallery forest. Outside the breeding season adults remain buried underground but emerge during the first heavy rains to breed in temporary ponds. [1]

Contents

It is threatened by habitat loss caused by agriculture and wood extraction. It is also collected for pet trade. [1]

Description

The Chaco horned frog is a small, round frog with short limbs. The snout-vent length ranges from 45.2 - 65.57 mm (1.67 - 2.58 in), and females are typically larger than males [4] [5] [6] . The head comprises almost half of an adult frog's body, with head length ranging from 20 - 24 mm (0.78 - 0.94 in), and head width ranging 19.16 - 29 mm (0.75 - 1.14 in) [6] . The eyes stick out prominently on top [5] [6] . The skin is covered in small, granular bumps, which are more prominent on the head and back. The forelimbs are short, and the fingers lack webbing.

Adults may have green or brown splotching along the head and back, and the underside is generally cream or white [5] . Two dark bands typically run from the eyes down the frog's sides.

Habitat & Distribution

Chacophrys pierottii is found only in the semi-arid and arid regions of the Gran Chaco in Northern Argentina, southern Bolivia, and western Paraguay, at altitudes of 70 - 200 m (229.65 - 656.16 ft) above sea level. [5] [7] [8]

Behavior & Ecology

During the dry season, adult Chaco horned frogs spend their time underground [7] [9] . Adults burrow underground, and construct a cocoon of dead skin to preserve moisture [7] [10] .

Reproduction

Once the rainy season begins, adults emerge and congregate in temporary pools to feed and mate; this activity peaks in January [6] . Males call to attract females, particularly after periods of rain of at least 60 mm (2.3 in) [4] . The mating call is repetitive, consisting of 3 - 12 high-pitched notes in a pulsed structure that begin suddenly, then abruptly descend at the end of the call. These notes last between 499 - 1056 ms and are emitted at a rate ranging from 46.2 - 66.6 notes/min. Pulse duration ranges from 3 - 9 ms and pulse rate ranges from 81.8 - 111.7 pulses/s. The primary frequency ranges from 4109.7 - 5060.1 Hz, and secondary harmonics range from 8953 - 9150 Hz [4] . After breeding, the female lays eggs at the bottom of muddy temporal pools that can be anywhere from 15 - 100 cm deep (5.9 - 39.7 in) and often contains submerged vegetation [7] [5] .

After hatching, larvae reach the final metamorphic stage in about two weeks [9] . Adults can live for up to five years [5] .

Diet

The diet of adult Chaco horned frogs consists mainly of insects, especially beetles, bees, ants, and lepidopterids [11] . They may also consume other anurans opportunistically.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tadpole</span> Larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian

A tadpole or polliwog is the larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial. Tadpoles have some fish-like features that may not be found in adult amphibians such as a lateral line, gills and swimming tails. As they undergo metamorphosis, they start to develop functional lungs for breathing air, and the diet of tadpoles changes drastically.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hylidae</span> Family of frogs

Hylidae is a wide-ranging family of frogs commonly referred to as "tree frogs and their allies". However, the hylids include a diversity of frog species, many of which do not live in trees, but are terrestrial or semiaquatic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ceratophryidae</span> Family of amphibians

The Ceratophryidae, also known as common horned frogs, are a family of frogs found in South America. It is a relatively small family with three extant genera and 12 species. Despite the common name, not all species in the family have the horn-like projections at the eyes. They have a relatively large head with big mouth, and they are ambush predators able to consume large prey, including lizards, other frogs, and small mammals. They inhabit arid areas and are seasonal breeders, depositing many small eggs in aquatic habitats. Tadpoles are free-living and carnivorous or grazers (Chacophrys).

<i>Lepidobatrachus</i> Genus of amphibians

Lepidobatrachus is a genus of ceratophryidid frogs. They are commonly known as Paraguay horned frogs or Budgett's frogs, although the latter technically describes a specific species, Lepidobatrachus laevis.

<i>Charadrahyla</i> Genus of amphibians

Charadrahyla is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to tropical southern Mexico. The generic name was derived from Greek charadra ("ravine") and Hyla, in reference to the habits of these frogs. Accordingly, common name ravine treefrogs has been coined for the genus.

<i>Hoplobatrachus crassus</i> Species of frog

Hoplobatrachus crassus, also called Jerdon's bullfrog, Jerdon's bull frog, and South Indian bullfrog, is a species of frog found widely distributed on the plains of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Its range may extend to the adjacent Bhutan and Myanmar.

<i>Phyllomedusa sauvagii</i> Species of amphibian

Phyllomedusa sauvagii, the waxy monkey leaf frog or waxy monkey tree frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil. This species is arboreal, living in the vegetation of the Gran Chaco.

<i>Rhinella proboscidea</i> Species of amphibian

Rhinella proboscidea is a species of small South American toad in the family Bufonidae, common in the Amazon rainforest. It is the only species known to practice reproductive necrophilia.

<i>Triprion spinosus</i> Species of amphibian

Triprion spinosus, also known as the spiny-headed tree frog, spiny-headed treefrog, spinyhead treefrog, coronated treefrog, and crowned hyla, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It has a spotty distribution in Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and southern Mexico. Previously in its own monotypic genus Anotheca Smith, 1939, it was transferred to the genus Triprion in 2018.

Charadrahyla pinorum is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to the Pacific slopes of Sierra Madre del Sur between central Guerrero and southwestern and central Oaxaca, Mexico. Common names pine wood treefrog and Mexican pine woods treefrog have been proposed for it. Its closest relative is probably Charadrahyla juanitae.

<i>Leptopelis kivuensis</i> Species of amphibian

Leptopelis kivuensis is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the highlands of western Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda, and in the extreme eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has been considered synonym of Leptopelis karissimbensis, and has been confused with that species. Common names Kisenyi forest treefrog and Kivu tree frog have been coined for it.

Lepidobatrachus asper is a species of frog in the family Ceratophryidae. It is found in the Chaco of northern Argentina and Paraguay. Record from Mato Grosso do Sul in southern Brazil is in error.

<i>Lepidobatrachus laevis</i> Species of amphibian

Lepidobatrachus laevis, widely known as Budgett's frog, is a species of frog in the family Ceratophryidae, discovered by John Samuel Budgett. It is often kept as a pet. It has acquired a number of popular nicknames, including hippo frog, Freddy Krueger frog, and escuerzo de agua.

Odontophrynus occidentalis, commonly known as the Cururu lesser escuerzo, is a species of frog in the family Odontophrynidae. It is endemic to western and central Argentina. Its natural habitats are montane forests, montane grasslands, rocky outcrops, and shrubland. Breeding takes place in permanent streams; the development of the tadpoles takes about eight months. It tolerates habitat change but is threatened by water pollution and fires caused by agriculture and mining.

<i>Proceratophrys bigibbosa</i> Species of frog

Proceratophrys bigibbosa is a species of frog in the family Odontophrynidae. It is found in the Misiones Province in the northeastern Argentina and in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina in southern Brazil; its range might extend into the adjacent Paraguay. Common names Peters' smooth horned frog and Cristina's smooth horned frog have been coined for it.

<i>Proceratophrys cristiceps</i> Species of frog

Proceratophrys cristiceps is a species of frog in the family Odontophrynidae. It is endemic to northeastern Brazil and occurs in the coastal region from the Bay of All Saints in central Bahia northward to the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Common name Muller's smooth horned frog has been proposed for it.

<i>Bokermannohyla vulcaniae</i> Species of amphibian

Bokermannohyla vulcaniae is a species of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Brazil and only known from the region of its type locality in Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais state. The specific name vulcaniae refers to the volcanic origin of the area of the type locality.

<i>Atlantihyla</i> Genus of amphibians

Atlantihyla is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Central America, specifically to Honduras and Guatemala. The generic name refers to its distribution on the Atlantic side of the isthmus. The members of the genus are known as stream frogs.

<i>Rheohyla</i> Genus of amphibians

Rheohyla is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. As currently recognized, it is monotypic, containing only Rheohyla miotympanum, also known as the small-eared hyla or small-eared treefrog. However, the nominal species likely is a complex of more than one species. It is endemic to eastern and central Mexico. The generic name refers to streams, the breeding habitat of this frog. The specific name is derived from Greek meion, a diminutive prefix, together with Greek tympanon (='drum') and refers to the small tympanum.

Bromeliohyla melacaena is a species of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to the Sierra de Omoa in northwest Honduras where it has been recorded from Cusuco National Park and Merendón Reserve.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lucy Aquino, Ignacio De la Riva, Steffen Reichle, Ismael di Tada, Esteban Lavilla (2004). "Chacophrys pierottii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004: e.T56343A11465217. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T56343A11465217.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Chacophrys pierottii (Vellard, 1948)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  3. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Chacophrys Reig and Limeses, 1963". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Lescano, Julián N. (2011-12-01). "Description of the advertisement and distress call of Chacophrys pierottii and comments on the advertisement call of Lepidobatrachus llanensis (Anura: Ceratophryidae)". Journal of Natural History. 45 (47–48): 47–48. doi:10.1080/00222933.2011.622056. ISSN   0022-2933.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Marangoni, Frederico; Stănescu, Florina; Courtis, Azul; Piñeiro, José Miguel; del Rosario Ingaramo, María; Cajade, Rodrigo; Cogălniceanu, Dan (2018). "Coping with Aridity: Life History of Chacophrys pierottii, a Fossorial Anuran of Gran Chaco". South American Journal of Herpetology. 13 (3): 230–237. doi:10.2994/SAJH-D-17-00070.1. hdl:11336/81147 – via BioONe.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Vellard, J. (1948). "Batracios del chaco argentino". Acta Zoologica Lilloana. 5: 137–174.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Cei, J. M. (1968). "Notes on the Tadpoles and Breeding Ecology of Lepidobatrachus (Amphibia: Ceratophryidae)". Herpetologica. 24 (2): 141–146. ISSN   0018-0831. JSTOR   3891302.
  8. ↑ IUCN (2020-12-02). Chacophrys pierottii: IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T56343A101427950 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2021-3.rlts.t56343a101427950.en.
  9. 1 2 Quinzio, Silvia I.; Fabrezi, Marissa; Faivovich, Julian A. (2006). "Redescription of the Tadpole of Chacophrys Pierottii (Vellard, 1948) (Anura, Ceratophryidae)". South American Journal of Herpetology. 1 (3): 202–209. doi:10.2994/1808-9798(2006)1[202:ROTTOC]2.0.CO;2 – via BioOne.
  10. ↑ Faivovich, Julian; Carrizo, Gustavo R. (1992). "Descripción de la larva de Chacophrys pierottii (Vellard, 1948) (Leptodactylidae, Ceratophryinae)". Alytes. 10 (3): 81–89 – via Research Gate.
  11. ↑ Pueta, Mariana; Perotti, Maria Gabriela (2013). "Feeding habits of juvenile Chacophrys pierottii (Ceratophryidae-ceratophryinae) from northwestern Córdoba Province, Argentina". Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 8 (2): 376–384 – via Research Gate.


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