Morelet's tree frog

Last updated

Contents

Morelet's tree frog
Agalychnis moreletii03.jpg
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Agalychnis
Species:
A. moreletii
Binomial name
Agalychnis moreletii
(Duméril, 1853)
Agalychnis moreletii map-fr.svg
Synonyms
  • Hyla moreletiiDuméril, 1853
  • Hyla holochloraSalvin, 1860

Morelet's tree frog (Agalychnis moreletii), also known as black-eyed leaf frog and popeye hyla, is a species of frog in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. It is found in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes.

Description

Physically, Morelet's tree frog has a similar form to the related red-eyed tree frog (A. callidryas), with which its range overlaps in areas, albeit slightly smaller, and with a more uniformly-green body, dark black eyes, and a red or pink underbelly.

Distribution and habitat

Morelet's tree frog primarily inhabits moist, subtropical lowland forests, montane or cloud forests, or wetland habitats with sufficient tree cover. The species is found in the middle of Central America, from southern Mexico to NW Honduras, as well as Belize, El Salvador and Guatemala. In Mexico, they have been observed on both the Atlantic and Pacific slopes of Veracruz, particularly in the hills around Córdoba, [3] even being found as far north as Cuetzalan, Puebla. [3] On the Mexican Pacific coast, they have been found near Acapulco, Guerrero, and are also known from the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca. [3] Elsewhere, the species has been observed in Celaque National Park (Honduras), [4] the Maya Mountains (Belize), most of the Pacific slopes of Guatemala's hills, [4] and near the Santa Ana volcano (El Salvador) [4] and the Pacific slopes around San Salvador. [4] They can live in untouched or disturbed habitats, and will breed in temporary or permanent bodies of water.

Reproduction and lifecycle

They have an extended breeding season during the summer months. When choosing a mate, the females tend to search for the males with the best sounding mating call. The males whose mating calls are the longest and have the most frequent pulses in pitch are the ones who get chosen by the females. They deposit clutches of 50 to 75 eggs on vegetation or rocks over water. The eggs of the Morelet's tree frog have a green pigment and when they hatch, the larvae fall into the water to complete their development into frogs.

Conservation

Morelet's tree frog are abundant within its range and are kept as pets internationally. Industry and agriculture are thought to be the main causes of lowland montane forest destruction. The population of Morelet's tree frogs are also being affected due to a disease called Chytridiomycosis, which is an infectious disease that kills amphibians. Chytridiomycosis and habitat destruction are projected to cause the population to decline over 80% in the next 10 years. In some regions, the frogs have gone extinct completely. For example, a study done in 2004, has claimed that Morelet's tree frog may be extirpated from the region of Southern Mexico. [5]

Their survival is dependent upon several factors due to their human and disease-caused population decline. Some conservation measures are in place, while others are still in need of implementation or research. Several protected parks have been created to curb habitat destruction in areas of Central America and Mexico. Taxonomic research is currently in place to further understand the population's status. More data are needed, however, on a temporal and spatial scale to determine trends in the population of Morelet's tree frogs.

Related Research Articles

<i>Dermophis mexicanus</i> Species of amphibian

Dermophis mexicanus, also known commonly as the Mexican burrowing caecilian or the Mexican caecilian, and locally as the tapalcua or tepelcua, is a species of limbless amphibian in the family Dermophiidae. The species is native to Mexico and Central America, where it burrows under leaf litter and plant debris.

Gymnopis syntrema is a species of caecilian in the family Dermophiidae. It is found in Belize, Guatemala, and possibly Honduras. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, plantations, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The bromeliad tree frog is a species of frogs in the family Hylidae.

The Honduran brook frog is a species of frog in the family Hylidae endemic to Honduras. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and rivers. Scientists have seen it between 90 and 1400 m above sea level in Honduras in rainforests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green-eyed treefrog</span> Species of amphibian

The green-eyed treefrog is a species of Australasian treefrog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae that occurs in the Wet Tropics of Australia.

The cloud forest stream frog is a species of frog in the family Hylidae found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and possibly Honduras. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, and rivers. The cloud forest stream frog's lower elevation limit sits at 500 meters and it's upper elevation limit is at 2,200 meters. The frog's current population trend is suspected to be decreasing due to the ongoing degradation in the quality and extent of its environment. It is common in Guatemala and Mexico, but the population status in Honduras and El Salvador are unknown. It is threatened by habitat loss. These frogs are semiaquatic, living both terrestrially and in inland freshwater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copan stream frog</span> Species of amphibian

The Copan stream frog is a species of frogs in the family Hylidae found in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and possibly El Salvador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, pastureland, and heavily degraded former forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Scinax staufferi</i> Species of frog

Scinax staufferi is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is found in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, pastureland, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forest, ponds, and canals and ditches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-spotted Mexican tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

The blue-spotted Mexican tree frog is a species of frog in the family Hylidae found on the Atlantic slopes of southeastern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, between Jalapa de Díaz in Mexico and Sierra del Mico in Guatemala. Its natural habitats are humid mid-altitude and montane forests, and it can also occur in secondary forest. Breeding takes place in temporary pools and streams and in depressions in logs that fill up with water. It is threatened by habitat loss and, potentially, chytridiomycosis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahogany tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

The mahogany tree frog is a species of frog in the family Hylidae found in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Painted tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

The painted tree frog is a species of frog in the family Hylidae found in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forests, ponds, and canals and ditches. This frog has been observed 1300 meters above sea level.

Craugastor chac is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is found in Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, plantations, and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Craugastor loki</i> Species of frog

Craugastor loki is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is found in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, plantations, and rural gardens. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Craugastor psephosypharus is a species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is found in Belize, Guatemala, and possibly Honduras. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rocky areas, and caves. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican climbing salamander</span> Species of amphibian

The Mexican climbing salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is found in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and possibly Nicaragua. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, plantations, and rural gardens. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Salvin's salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is found in El Salvador and Guatemala. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, pastureland, plantations, and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland frog</span> Species of amphibian

The highland frog, also known as the masked mountain frog, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae, known from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, and freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-collared becard</span> Species of bird

The grey-collared becard is a species of bird in the family Tityridae. Its genus, Pachyramphus, has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggests it is better placed in Tityridae.

The Central America bioregion is a biogeographic region comprising southern Mexico and Central America.

<i>Agalychnis taylori</i> Species of frog

Agalychnis taylori, commonly known as the red-eyed tree frog or Taylor's leaf frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. It was originally described as a subspecies of Agalychnis callidryas in 1957. In 1967 it was synonymized with Agalychnis callidryas by Savage and Heyer. In 2019, it was resurrected and elevated to a full species based on well-supported morphological data. The range of Agalychnis taylori extends from central Veracruz, Mexico, to west-central Honduras.

References

  1. ↑ IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2017). "Agalychnis moreletii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T55293A53951672. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T55293A53951672.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "Observations • iNaturalist". iNaturalist . Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Observations • iNaturalist". iNaturalist . Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  5. ↑ Lips, K. R.; J. R. Mendelson 3rd; A. Muñoz-Alonso; L. Canseco-Márquez & D. G. Mulcahy (2004). "Amphibian population declines in montane southern Mexico: Resurveys of historical localities" (PDF). Biological Conservation. 119 (4): 555–564. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2004.01.017.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[ permanent dead link ]

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.