Hyloxalus lehmanni explained

Hyloxalus lehmanni is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae. It is found widely in Colombia from Antioquia southwards (Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Central) to northern Ecuador (Cotopaxi Province).[1] [2] [3]

Description

Males measure 15mm20mm and females 17mm23mm in snout–vent length. Abdomen is black in males but white or gray in females. An oblique lateral stripe that extends to eye is present.[4]

Etymology

The species' Latin name refers to F. Carlos Lehmann V.

Young

The female frog lays eggs in the leaf litter and the male frog carries the tadpoles to streams with slow-flowing water for further development.

Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitats are very humid montane forest, but it has also been found in open fields and very modified areas. It always occurs near streams. Its altitudinal range is 1625m-2580mm (5,331feet-8,470feetm) in Colombia[2] and 1460m-2120mm (4,790feet-6,960feetm) in Ecuador.[3]

The frog's range includes several protected parks, including Parque Nacional Sumaco Napo-Galeras, Reserva Ecológica Cayambe-Coca, and Reserva Natural Comunitaria El Manantial Florencia.

Hyloxalus lehmanni is common in Colombia, but has dramatically declined in Ecuador, possibly due to chytridiomycosis. Also habitat loss, introduction of alien predatory fish, and pollution are threats. Scientists also cite deforestation in favor of legal farms, illegal farms, timber harvesting, and sites for human habitation as threats. Spraying of illegal crops also creates pollution that affects this species.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hyloxalus lehmanni (Silverstone, 1971) . Frost, Darrel R. . 2014 . Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 . American Museum of Natural History . 26 March 2015.
  2. Web site: Hyloxalus lehmanni (Silverstone, 1971) . Acosta-Galvis, A.R. . 2014 . Lista de los Anfibios de Colombia V.05.2015.0 . www.batrachia.com . 26 March 2015.
  3. Web site: Hyloxalus lehmanni . Ortiz, D. A. . Coloma, L. A. . Frenkel, C. . amp . 2013 . Ron, S. R., Guayasamin, J. M., Yanez-Muñoz, M. H., Merino-Viteri, A., Ortiz, D. A. y Nicolalde, D. A. 2014. AmphibiaWebEcuador. Version 2014.0 . Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ) . 26 March 2015.
  4. Coloma . L. A. . 1995 . Ecuadorian frogs of the genus Colostethus (Anura: Dendrobatidae) . Miscellaneous Publication, Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas . 87 . 1–72 .