Frogs of Reserva Comunal Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo in Loreto, Peru

 

Pictures were taken between 1/5-1/17/2003 on a class trip to the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo reserve. The camera was a Fuji Finepix 3800 digital. Species identifications were made with "Guide to the Frogs of the Iquitos Region" unless otherwise noted. In several cases, identification to species was not possible. I read once that in Costa Rica alone there are approximately a zillion species of Eleutherodactylus. There are probably more in Peru. Identification would be almost impossible with just a picture due to the overlap in coloration of many species. Also, several species were not in the field guide, making identification to genus or even family difficult in some cases. I'm sure there are errors in some of the species identifications, so if you notice any, please email me.

 

Family Dendrobatidae

 

Dendrobates duellmani

D. duellmani is certainly one of the most attractive of the Dendrobatids. It took me a while to find this frog but once I did, I found plenty. Color and pattern seems to be pretty uniform in this species. It was found in terra firme forest and was usually less than a meter above the ground, although on one occasion I saw one on a tree trunk escape by climbing up and out of sight. These frogs breed in bromeliads and have black tadpoles as opposed to D. flavovittatus, which has white tadpoles.

 

 

Dendrobates flavovittatus

Runner up for prettiest frog I found is Dendrobates flavovittatus. It was found in the same places as D. duellmani, although usually a few feet off the ground. They seem to like horizontal sticks and logs quite a bit. Life history habits are very similar to D. duellmani, except that this frog may be a facultative egg feeder like D. imitator, a very close relative. Tadpoles for this species are white.

 

 

Dendrobates spp. (ventrimaculatus?)

This is the mystery Dendrobatid. It was found behind the lodge by Jeff in igapo forest, a place where the only poison frog is the unpublished Dendrobates callegari. However, a guide who has seen D. callegari told me that this frog is something else. It looks almost exactly like D. ventrimaculatus, but they are only supposed to be in terra firme. The interesting thing is that D. ventrimaculatus is similar to D. duellmani in that it is a leaf-litter frog. In order for this frog to live in a flood zone it would have to be completely arboreal at least for part of the year. Who knows, maybe it’s a new species.

 

Epipedobates femoralis

This frog was hard to see and much harder to catch. I found it a few times in terra firme, including one that was carrying tadpoles. It deposits these tadpoles in small forest pools, instead of bromeliads like many dendrobatids.

 

Colostethus marchesianus

Although a member of the poison frog family, the genus Colostethus, as a rule, is nontoxic. They depend on a cryptic lifestyle to avoid predation. Colostethus marchesianus is the only representative of the genus in this area. We found this frog only in terra firme forest (and in the lab at the lodge).

Family Bufonidae

 

Atelopus spumarius

This frog is abundant in the terra firme forests near the Rio Blanco. This species is diurnal and apparently nontoxic, but when in danger it is known to show its palms and belly in an effort to deter a potential predator. It was most often encountered near streams which it uses for breeding.

 

Bufo ceratophrys

There is apparently much confusion over the taxonomy of this group of toads, dubbed the Bufo margaritifer complex. The field guide had the species name as ceratophrys, so I will stick with that. The first picture is of an adult. The second picture is of a juvenile of possibly the same species, but possibly a different frog from within the B. margaritifer group. These frogs are diurnal leaf mimics that feed primarily on ants. I was only able to find this frog in terra firme primary and secondary forest. 

 

 

Bufo marinus

The majestic cane toad is common both around the lodge and in terra firme forest. I was unable to find a true behemoth, but Bill Glanz was able to find this medium-sized individual. 

 

 

Dendrophryniscus minutus

Here is another diurnal leaf-mimic ant-eater that we found in terra firme. This frog is apparently uncommon. The frog in the picture is full grown.

Family Hylidae

 

Aparasphenodon bokermanni

 

I originally thought that this was Osteocephalus taurinus. After looking at this website I changed my mind. Note the prominent bones on the nose which may or may not be characteristic of this genus. This frog was found at the lodge.

 

 

 

Hyla punctata

 

This frog was found at night in a small pond with dense floating vegetation. It is a common inhabitant of varzea forests and open water areas with dense vegetation.

 

 

 

Hyla boans

This frog is sometimes called the gladiator tree frog, I guess because of its huge size. I was only able to find one true Hyla boans, even though most of the guides called every Hylid by the same name. I found this at the lodge.

 

 

Hyla spp.

We found this frog on a night hike behind the lodge. This was not in the field guide, but I was able to identify it to Hyla koechlini with a set of laminated cards at the lodge. Now, I have received information that this frog is far too big to be H. koechlini, so now I have no idea what it is.

 

 

Osteocephalus taurinus

This frog was spotted by me and caught by Luke near the small waterfall where we went swimming. He was definitely the most out of control tree frog I think I have ever seen. Having him sit still for these pictures was a miracle. This may very well not be the correct latin name. It seems that in Osteocephalus taurinus there is some major color variability. The spots on the sides and the bars on the legs are the only reason why I could attempt identification.

 

 

Osteocephalus leprieurii

This tree frog was found sleeping in a bromeliad while on a hike in the terra firme forest. The common name is “common forest bromeliad tree frog”. Go figure!

 

 

Osteocephalus spp.

This one was found at the lodge in a shower. It is certainly not in any of the books. It is almost definetly an Osteocephalus. By process of elimination (there are only a few members of this genus in the area) I would say that it is probably Osteocephalus cabrerai, depending on what picture you look at.

 

 

Sphaenorhynchus lacteus

This was found in the same place as Hyla punctata. The picture in the field guide is very misleading. I was able to identify this frog because of the characteristic white edging along the posterior.

 

 

Unknown hylid

This one could be anything. It was found behind the lodge in igapo forest at night.

 

Family Leptodactylidae

 

Andenomera andreae

 

In this species description it said this frog was uncommon and found only in terra firme forest. I found this behind the lodge in igapo forest. Either it is a different species that looks exactly the same, or the species description is incorrect. This species builds a foam nest. The eggs are laid in the nest, and after hatching, the tadpoles remain in the nest feeding on yolk reserves. They emerge from the nest as miniatures of the adult.

 

 

Leptodactylus pentadactylus

This frog was found underneath the lodge. It was very difficult to photograph due to the fact that it had a burrow as an escape route. This species is one of the largest in the area, and this one was far from full grown.

 

Eleutherodactylus conspicillatus

This frog was found in terra firme. It is probably diurnal.

 

Eleutherodactylus lacrimosus

 Llaco and I found this frog while on a night night in the terra firme during our camping trip.

 

Eleutherodactylus lythrodes

 Found in terra firme, probably diurnal.

 

Eleutherodactylus ventrimarmoratus

 

 Found at the lodge.

 

Eleutherodactylus spp. 1

 Found behind the lodge.

 

Eleutherodactylus spp. 2

 Found behind the lodge.

 

Eleutherodactylus spp. 3

 Found behind the lodge.

 

Eleutherodactylus spp. 4

 Found behind the lodge. This one was covered in mud.

 

Eleutherodactylus spp. 5

 I think this one was found in the terra firme.

 

Ischnocnema quixensis

For a while I had no idea what this frog was. I am pretty sure that it is Ischnocnema quixensis after searcing the internet. It was found at night in the terra firme. It is unusual in that it has a very pronounced tympanum and is also covered in tubercules.

 

Unknown Frogs

 

Picture 1 is of a 4-5 inch frog I found behind the lodge. At first glance it looks like a Leptodactylus, but in the field guide there were none that even looked close. It is probably too big to be an Eleutherodactylus, but it is probably in the same family. The frog in the second picture has a very distinct brown head. Again, the field guides did not have this frog. If I had to guess I would say Eleutherodactylus.

Terra firme forest

 

Most of the bromeliads found in the terra firme forest looked to be of the genus Guzmania. Some of the pictures show pools of water where frogs like Epipedobates femoralis may breed. The bromeliads are used by Dendrobates flavovittatus and D. duellmani for breeding. They also make very good resting places for many hylids. Atelopus spumarius was most common around small rivers, such as the one shown in picture 2.