Eleutherodactylus orientalis

Eleutherodactylus orientalis
Individual on the forest floor (above), two on a hand showings the species' minute size (below)
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Eleutherodactylidae
Genus:	Eleutherodactylus
Species:	E. orientalis
Binomial name
Eleutherodactylus orientalis (Barbour & Shreve, 1937)
Synonyms
Sminthillus limbatus ssp. orientalis Barbour & Shreve, 1937

Eleutherodactylus orientalis, the Oriental robber frog or Baracoa dwarf frog, is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to the vicinity of El Yunque, Baracoa, in easternmost Cuba. Although locally common, it requires undisturbed moist forest and has a tiny range, making it critically endangered from habitat loss and degradation. ^[1]

E. orientalis is relatively brightly marked in yellow and very small, females averaging 1.33 cm (0.52 in) in snout–to–vent length and males 1.25 cm (0.49 in). ^[2] It is part of a closely related Cuban group that contains five additional described species ( E. cubanus , E. etheridgei , E. iberia , E. jaumei and E. limbatus ) and at least one undescribed species; most of which are of tiny size, relatively brightly colored and possibly aposematic (at least E. iberia and E. orientalis have alkaloid toxins in their skin). ^[3]

References

1. Blair Hedges, Luis Díaz (2004). "Eleutherodactylus orientalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004 e.T56815A11537567. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T56815A11537567.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
2. "Eleutherodactylus orientalis". AmphibiaWeb. Berkeley, California. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
3. Rodríguez, A.; R. Alonso; J.A. Rodríguez; M. Vences (2012). "Geographic distribution, colour variation and molecular diversity of miniature frogs of the Eleutherodactylus limbatus group from Cuba". Salamandra. 48 (2): 71–91.