Eleutherodactylus Beguei Essay
Description:
Eleutherodactylus beguei is a small-sized frog at 15.2 mm. The length and width of the head are proportionate in size, equaling about the same in distance. The snout is slightly pointed and overlaps the lower jaw. Nostrils have an oval shape, do not protrude from the head, and are laterally directed. Canthus rostralis is distinguished as flat from a dorsal viewpoint, but rounded in profile. On the eyelid skin a few small granules are visible. The loreal area is smooth and gradually slopes towards the labial border. They have a rounded tympanum with clear annulus. Equal to that of the third finger’s disc, oval in shaped, and is overlapped by the palatal shelf is the choanae. The tongue’s shape is partially oval and the posterior half is not …show more content…
adhered to the floor of the mouth. Dorsal skin has granules and tubercles that are primarily arranged in a dorsolateral row. This species contains three variations of glands: supraxillary, postfemoral, and inguinal. Inguinal glands are yellow in color and rounded. The ventral view, disregarding the chest and throat, contains a pattern similar to dried mud (areolate). The inner thigh also possesses this display. Relative finger length is 3 > 4 > 2 > 1. The fingers have small digital discs and are pointed. The discs on the two outer fingers are larger than the two inner fingers. Relative toe length is 4 > 3 > 5 > 2 > 1. Toes do not contain lateral ridges or webbing; on the outer part of the toe pad there is a circumferential groove (Diaz et al. 2015).
In life, the overall coloration varies from grayish brown to reddish brown and some with a greenish hue. The majority of the population contains marbling or vermiculation pattern on their head, dorsum, and hind leg. Typically, a dark area is visible on the sacral and supra scapular. The groins are yellow and the forearms are comprised of a yellowish tone. Some are lined with a cream to orange dorsolateral stripe. However, there is an individual that contains two pale, wide stripes beginning at the snout and continuing down the dorsal side. These stripes run adjacent to the vertebrae. Above the tympanic membrane is a black stripe, which has a strong contrast against the paler tone beneath; this makes the black more evident. They have two dark patches above the suprainguinal. The legs possess bands that are either hardly visible or fragmented (Diaz et al. 2015).
When differentiating E.
beguei from other related species, the first characteristics to notice would be the coloring or markings. Two related species of E. beguei are E. feichtingeri and E. varleyi. E. feichtingeri is uniform in color and displays a chevron or diamond shaped pattern (Diaz et al. 2012). For E. varleyi, the perimeter of the snout has a black stripe and is typically reddish brown in color (Diaz et al. 2003). Listening to the advertisement call would allow for quick determination. In E. feichtingeri they have a short metallic advertisement call that can be heard from 50-meters away (Diaz et al. 2012). While, E. beguei’s soft chirps can be barely heard from a 10-meter distance. To further differentiate; observing the development of the vocal sac will provide indications for determining the proper species. E. feichtingeri and E. varleyi from a ventral view of the throat have visible flaps of skin that are used during advertisements. However, E. beguei has a relatively small vocal sac and don’t possess the gular folding. Furthermore, the post-femoral glands of E. varleyi have a tendency to be more swollen and highlighted compared to E. beguei where they can be difficult to locate (Diaz et al.
2015).
Distribution and Habitat:
This particular species has only been found residing near the north coast of eastern Cuba between La Munición and Humboldt National Park, Municipality of Yateras, Guantánamo Province in Cuba. While this species has only been located in one area of Cuba, there is the possibility of distribution in the Meseta del Guaso and other locations. This region of Cuba primarily consists of forest with a thick layer of bushes near the base of the trees. These frogs were viewed on the ground, leaves of bushes, fallen branches, or tree trucks during vocalization, going as high as 1.2 m (Diaz et al. 2015).
Life History and Natural History:
This species of frog’s mating behavior consists of amplexus. However, unlike the related species E.varleyi whose clutch size ranges from 3 to 4 eggs (Diaz et al. 2003). E. beguei has been noted to have clutch sizes that range from 9-10 eggs. The embryos receive all of their nutrients from the anamniotic eggs and go through direct development. It is unknown as to whether or not the male or female species participated in any means of parental care (Diaz et al. 2015).
The vocalization call of E.Beguei is most commonly a one-note call that is similar to the sound of a chirp. Yet, they have been known to produce two, three, and four note calls. The one-note call’s frequency resembles that of an inverted V, increasing then sharply decreasing. Each call is produced at a low rate and last roughly 19-26 milliseconds and has a frequency of 3.2-5.1 kHz. The highest amplitude of the call occurs around the middle. The duration between calls usually last 12.7-21.1 seconds. In the two-note call the first note last 22-28 milliseconds while the second last 19-30 milliseconds. This call has a frequency of 3.5-4.4 kHz and also follows the inverted V-shape. Males were observed to randomly call between the hours of 10:00 pm and 3:00 am. The female also participates in advertisement calls and emits a soft chirping. The frequency has the inverted V-shaped pattern as well and produces 2.9 kHz. The female call is similar to males (Diaz et al. 2015).
Trends and Threats:
There have been no findings that describe the population trend of this species of frog.
Eleutherodactylus beguei is a small-sized frog at 15.2 mm. The length and width of the head are proportionate in size, equaling about the same in distance. The snout is slightly pointed and overlaps the lower jaw. Nostrils have an oval shape, do not protrude from the head, and are laterally directed. Canthus rostralis is distinguished as flat from a dorsal viewpoint, but rounded in profile. On the eyelid skin a few small granules are visible. The loreal area is smooth and gradually slopes towards the labial border. They have a rounded tympanum with clear annulus. Equal to that of the third finger’s disc, oval in shaped, and is overlapped by the palatal shelf is the choanae. The tongue’s shape is partially oval and the posterior half is not …show more content…
adhered to the floor of the mouth. Dorsal skin has granules and tubercles that are primarily arranged in a dorsolateral row. This species contains three variations of glands: supraxillary, postfemoral, and inguinal. Inguinal glands are yellow in color and rounded. The ventral view, disregarding the chest and throat, contains a pattern similar to dried mud (areolate). The inner thigh also possesses this display. Relative finger length is 3 > 4 > 2 > 1. The fingers have small digital discs and are pointed. The discs on the two outer fingers are larger than the two inner fingers. Relative toe length is 4 > 3 > 5 > 2 > 1. Toes do not contain lateral ridges or webbing; on the outer part of the toe pad there is a circumferential groove (Diaz et al. 2015).
In life, the overall coloration varies from grayish brown to reddish brown and some with a greenish hue. The majority of the population contains marbling or vermiculation pattern on their head, dorsum, and hind leg. Typically, a dark area is visible on the sacral and supra scapular. The groins are yellow and the forearms are comprised of a yellowish tone. Some are lined with a cream to orange dorsolateral stripe. However, there is an individual that contains two pale, wide stripes beginning at the snout and continuing down the dorsal side. These stripes run adjacent to the vertebrae. Above the tympanic membrane is a black stripe, which has a strong contrast against the paler tone beneath; this makes the black more evident. They have two dark patches above the suprainguinal. The legs possess bands that are either hardly visible or fragmented (Diaz et al. 2015).
When differentiating E.
beguei from other related species, the first characteristics to notice would be the coloring or markings. Two related species of E. beguei are E. feichtingeri and E. varleyi. E. feichtingeri is uniform in color and displays a chevron or diamond shaped pattern (Diaz et al. 2012). For E. varleyi, the perimeter of the snout has a black stripe and is typically reddish brown in color (Diaz et al. 2003). Listening to the advertisement call would allow for quick determination. In E. feichtingeri they have a short metallic advertisement call that can be heard from 50-meters away (Diaz et al. 2012). While, E. beguei’s soft chirps can be barely heard from a 10-meter distance. To further differentiate; observing the development of the vocal sac will provide indications for determining the proper species. E. feichtingeri and E. varleyi from a ventral view of the throat have visible flaps of skin that are used during advertisements. However, E. beguei has a relatively small vocal sac and don’t possess the gular folding. Furthermore, the post-femoral glands of E. varleyi have a tendency to be more swollen and highlighted compared to E. beguei where they can be difficult to locate (Diaz et al.
2015).
Distribution and Habitat:
This particular species has only been found residing near the north coast of eastern Cuba between La Munición and Humboldt National Park, Municipality of Yateras, Guantánamo Province in Cuba. While this species has only been located in one area of Cuba, there is the possibility of distribution in the Meseta del Guaso and other locations. This region of Cuba primarily consists of forest with a thick layer of bushes near the base of the trees. These frogs were viewed on the ground, leaves of bushes, fallen branches, or tree trucks during vocalization, going as high as 1.2 m (Diaz et al. 2015).
Life History and Natural History:
This species of frog’s mating behavior consists of amplexus. However, unlike the related species E.varleyi whose clutch size ranges from 3 to 4 eggs (Diaz et al. 2003). E. beguei has been noted to have clutch sizes that range from 9-10 eggs. The embryos receive all of their nutrients from the anamniotic eggs and go through direct development. It is unknown as to whether or not the male or female species participated in any means of parental care (Diaz et al. 2015).
The vocalization call of E.Beguei is most commonly a one-note call that is similar to the sound of a chirp. Yet, they have been known to produce two, three, and four note calls. The one-note call’s frequency resembles that of an inverted V, increasing then sharply decreasing. Each call is produced at a low rate and last roughly 19-26 milliseconds and has a frequency of 3.2-5.1 kHz. The highest amplitude of the call occurs around the middle. The duration between calls usually last 12.7-21.1 seconds. In the two-note call the first note last 22-28 milliseconds while the second last 19-30 milliseconds. This call has a frequency of 3.5-4.4 kHz and also follows the inverted V-shape. Males were observed to randomly call between the hours of 10:00 pm and 3:00 am. The female also participates in advertisement calls and emits a soft chirping. The frequency has the inverted V-shaped pattern as well and produces 2.9 kHz. The female call is similar to males (Diaz et al. 2015).
Trends and Threats:
There have been no findings that describe the population trend of this species of frog.