Physalaemus nattereri

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Physalaemus nattereri
Physalaemus nattereri in deimatic behavior.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Leptodactylidae
Genus: Physalaemus
Species:
P. nattereri
Binomial name
Physalaemus nattereri
(Steindachner, 1863)
Distribution map of Physalaemus nattereri.svg
Synonyms [2]
  • Eupomplyx marmoratus Jan, 1857 — nomen nudum
  • Eupemphix nattereri Steindachner, 1863
  • Eupemphix marmoratus Steindachner, 1864 — nomen nudum
  • Paludicola edentula Boettger, 1885

Physalaemus nattereri (common name: Cuyaba dwarf frog) is a frog native to central and southeastern Brazil and eastern Bolivia and Paraguay. [2]

Contents

Description

It has two "false eyes" on its rear. The 3–4 cm frog lifts its rear end when threatened, startling predators. If a predator does not get fooled by the eyespots, and decides to move closer, the frog can produce an unpleasant secretion that comes from glands located in the eyespots. [3] Similar display is known from Physalaemus deimaticus . [4]

Reproduction

A study in Bodoquena (in the Mato Grosso do Sul state of Brazil) found Physalaemus nattereri to be an explosive breeder, with most of the reproductive activity occurring within a few days after heavy rainfall. Males formed choruses to attract females but they could also actively search for females. Egg clutches were deposited in the margins of temporary ponds. Several pairs may use the same foam nest. Mean clutch size was about 3800 eggs. Females were larger (mean snout–vent length 51 mm (2.0 in), range 43–56 mm; mean body mass 19.3 g) than males (47 mm (1.9 in), range 43–55 mm; 11.4 g). Ovaries made about 22% of female body mass; fecundity increased with the female body size. [5]

Habitat and conservation

Physalaemus nattereri is a fossorial and seasonal frog. It inhabits savannas and grasslands in the Cerrado biome and is found on the ground near standing and temporary waterbodies, such as ponds and swamps. It could be locally threatened by spread of intensive agriculture. It is present in several protected areas. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Physalaemus</i> Genus of amphibians

Physalaemus is a large genus of leptodactylid frogs. These frogs, sometimes known as dwarf frogs or foam frogs, are found in South America. It is very similar to Leptodactylus, a close relative, and indeed the recently described Leptodactylus lauramiriamae is in some aspects intermediate between them.

Ameerega braccata, formerly Epipedobates braccatus, is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae. It is endemic to the Central-West Region of Brazil and is known from southern Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and southwestern Goiás states; however, it is likely that its true range extends into adjacent Bolivia and Paraguay.

Cycloramphus dubius is a species of frog in the family Cycloramphidae. It is endemic to the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Common name São Paulo button frog has been coined for it.

<i>Edalorhina perezi</i> Species of frog

Edalorhina perezi is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is one of the only two species in the genus Edalorhina in the family Leptodactylidae. This species is diurnal and terrestrial. During mating season both female and male frogs gather around treefall pools. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, and possibly Bolivia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and freshwater marshes. The species listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List and the population is stable.

<i>Leptodactylus latrans</i> Species of frog

Leptodactylus latrans is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is native to much of South America east of the Andes, and Trinidad and Tobago. It has many common names, including rana criolla, sapo-rana llanero, butter frog, and lesser foam frog.

<i>Leptodactylus podicipinus</i> Species of amphibian

Leptodactylus podicipinus, sometimes known as the pointedbelly frog, is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is found in northern Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Brazil.

Leptodactylus pustulatus is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitats are moist savanna, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, freshwater marshes, pastureland, rural gardens, urban areas, and ponds. The female frog seems to provide some level of parental care for the tadpoles. This is a common species of frog and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed it as being of "least concern".

<i>Lithodytes</i> Genus of amphibians

Lithodytes is a genus of frogs in the family of Leptodactylidae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species, Lithodytes lineatus, also commonly known as the gold-striped frog or painted antnest frog. It is found in tropical South America where it lives in humid forests among the leaf litter. These frogs build foam nests at the edge of temporary pools, and the tadpoles develop within these. The frogs also associate with certain leafcutter ants and breed inside their nests without being attacked by the ants.

<i>Physalaemus albonotatus</i> Species of frog

Physalaemus albonotatus is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is found in Brazil, Paraguay, and Chacoan Argentina and Bolivia.

<i>Physalaemus barrioi</i> Species of frog

Physalaemus barrioi is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is endemic to Serra do Bocaina in São Paulo state, Brazil. The specific name barrioi honors Avelino Barrio, a Spanish botanist and zoologist who lived in Argentina. However, the common name Bocaina dwarf frog has been proposed for it.

Physalaemus deimaticus is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is endemic to Brazil and only known from its type locality in Jaboticatubas, Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais. The specific name deimaticus is derived from Greek deimos fror "fear" and refers to the defensive display of this frog, probably aimed at scaring predators. Common names Jaboticatubas dwarf frog and frightening foam froglet have been coined for it.

<i>Physalaemus ephippifer</i> Species of frog

Physalaemus ephippifer is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is found in central and eastern Brazilian Amazonia, the Guianas, and southern Venezuela. It might not occur in French Guiana.

<i>Physalaemus erikae</i> Species of frog

Physalaemus erikae is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is endemic to eastern Brazil and currently known only from southern Bahia, although it is likely that its range extends into nearby areas in northeastern Minas Gerais and northern Espírito Santo with similar vegetation.

<i>Physalaemus maculiventris</i> Species of frog

Physalaemus maculiventris is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is endemic to Southeast and South Brazil and is known primarily from the Serra do Mar in Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo state, Paraná, and Santa Catarina states. Common name Mantagnes dwarf frog has been proposed for it.

<i>Physalaemus olfersii</i> Species of frog

Physalaemus olfersii is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is endemic to southeastern Brazil and is known from Espírito Santo, southeastern Minas Gerais, and São Paulo states. Records further south refer to Physalaemus lateristriga, which was restored from the synonymy of Physalaemus olfersii in 2010. Common name Atlantic Forest dwarf frog has been proposed for this species.

<i>Engystomops petersi</i> Species of amphibian

Engystomops petersi is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is found in Amazonian Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It is morphologically similar to its sibling species, Engystomops freibergi, and for a period the latter was considered to be a junior synonym of Engystomops petersi. Taxonomy and classification of this species is constantly changing due to the continual evolution of behavioral isolation and rapid speciation in the region. There are also records from the Guianas that have not yet been allocated to either species. Divergence of these two species seems to have been driven by behavioural isolation related to male call characteristics more than geographic isolation.

Engystomops pustulatus is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is known with certainty from western Ecuador, whereas the status of Peruvian records is ambiguous as they may refer to an undescribed species or possibly Engystomops puyango. Nevertheless, given that E. pustulatus is now known from Huaquillas in southern Ecuador, near the Peruvian border, it is likely to be found in Peru too.

<i>Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata</i> Species of frog known for living in partnership with burrowing tarantulas

Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata, also known as the dotted humming frog, is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, swamps, and intermittent freshwater marshes.

<i>Elachistocleis bicolor</i> Species of frog

Elachistocleis bicolor is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is found in central Argentina and northward through Paraguay and Uruguay to Amazonian Brazil; earlier reports from Bolivia probably refer to Elachistocleis haroi.

<i>Engystomops</i> Genus of amphibians

Engystomops is a genus of frogs in the family Leptodactylidae. They are known commonly as foam frogs or túngara frogs, though the latter name most commonly refers to Engystomops pustulosus. They are native to the Americas from southern Mexico south to the Amazon Basin.

References

  1. 1 2 Lucy Aquino, Steffen Reichle, Débora Silvano, Norman Scott (2004). "Physalaemus nattereri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004: e.T57267A11597340. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T57267A11597340.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Physalaemus nattereri (Steindachner, 1863)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  3. Camouflage and Mimicry - Owen, Dennis Frank, 1980
  4. Sazima, I. & Caramaschi, U. (1986). "Descricao de Physalaemus deimaticus, sp. n., e observacoaes sobre comportamento deimatico em P. nattereri (Steindn.) — Anura, Leptodactylidae" [Description of Physalaemus deimaticus, sp. n., and observations on the deimatic behaviour in P. nattereri (Steindn.) — Anura, Leptodactylidae]. Revista de Biologia. 13: 91–101.
  5. Rodrigues, Domingos de J.; Masao Uetanabaro; Frederico S. Lopes (2004). "Reproductive strategies of Physalaemus nattereri (Steindachner, 1863) and P. albonotatus (Steindachner, 1864) at Serra da Bodoquena, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil" (PDF). Revista Española de Herpetología. 18: 63–73.