Eleutherodactylus luteolus
Encyclopedia
Eleutherodactylus luteolus is a species of frog
in the Leptodactylidae
family.
It is endemic to Jamaica
.
Its natural habitat
is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest
s.
It is threatened by habitat loss.
This species has a restricted range in western Jamaica
, ranging from sea level up to 680m asl.
This species is an inhabitant of mesic forests on the coast and in the uplands; although associated with closed-canopy forest, it can tolerate some habitat degradation. Males call from the ground or from low vegetation. Eggs are laid on the ground and it breeds by direct development and may be associated with bromeliads.
It has rarely been encountered during the last decade, although it is commonly found in Dolphin Head in extreme western Jamaica
. It has also been recently seen in Rocklands (B. Hedges, pers. comm. 2007; K. Jones, pers. comm. 2007).
Although this species appears to be slightly more tolerant of habitat disturbance than some other species in the genus, such as Eleutherodactylus sisyphodemus and E. griphus, rather extensive habitat destruction and deforestation is taking place within its range, caused by agriculture, human settlement and logging.
It occurs in several forest reserves, but these do not guarantee the species' long-term protection, and there is a clear need for improved and strengthened management of these existing protected areas.
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
in the Leptodactylidae
Leptodactylidae
Leptodactylidae is a diverse family of frogs that probably diverged from other hyloids during the Cenozoic era, or possibly at the end of the Mesozoic. There are roughly 50 genera, one of which is Eleutherodactylus, the largest vertebrate genus, with over 700 species...
family.
It is endemic to Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
.
Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s.
It is threatened by habitat loss.
Range description
This species has a restricted range in western Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, ranging from sea level up to 680m asl.
Habitat and ecology
This species is an inhabitant of mesic forests on the coast and in the uplands; although associated with closed-canopy forest, it can tolerate some habitat degradation. Males call from the ground or from low vegetation. Eggs are laid on the ground and it breeds by direct development and may be associated with bromeliads.
Population
It has rarely been encountered during the last decade, although it is commonly found in Dolphin Head in extreme western Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. It has also been recently seen in Rocklands (B. Hedges, pers. comm. 2007; K. Jones, pers. comm. 2007).
Major threats
Although this species appears to be slightly more tolerant of habitat disturbance than some other species in the genus, such as Eleutherodactylus sisyphodemus and E. griphus, rather extensive habitat destruction and deforestation is taking place within its range, caused by agriculture, human settlement and logging.
Conservation actions
It occurs in several forest reserves, but these do not guarantee the species' long-term protection, and there is a clear need for improved and strengthened management of these existing protected areas.
Source
- Hedges, B., Koenig, S. & Wilson, B. 2004. Eleutherodactylus luteolus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 22 July 2007.
- Blair Hedges, Susan Koenig, Byron Wilson, Kelly Jones 2008. Eleutherodactylus luteolus. In: http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?where-genus=Eleutherodactylus&where-species=luteolus Downloaded on 15 February 2011