Phyllomedusa
Encyclopedia
Phyllomedusa is a genus
of tree frog from Central
and South America
. It ranges from Costa Rica
southward to Argentina
. It has around thirty species.
Some indigenous groups from South America use the secretions of Phyllomedusa bicolor
also called Giant Leaf Frog, in shamanic hunting practices. The substance is said to intoxicate the Indians who ingest it, causing them to temporarily improve their sensorial capacities.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of tree frog from Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. It ranges from Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
southward to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It has around thirty species.
Secretion
Some Phyllomedusa species produce a waxy secretion that reduces the evaporative water loss of their bodies, thus keeping them from drying out.Some indigenous groups from South America use the secretions of Phyllomedusa bicolor
Phyllomedusa bicolor
The Giant leaf frog is a hylid frog found throughout the Amazon Rainforest of northern Bolivia, western and northern Brazil, south-eastern Colombia, eastern Peru, southern and eastern Venezuela, and the Guianas. Locally, it also occurs in riverine forest in the Cerrado...
also called Giant Leaf Frog, in shamanic hunting practices. The substance is said to intoxicate the Indians who ingest it, causing them to temporarily improve their sensorial capacities.
Reproduction
In this genus of treefrogs, eggs are deposited on a leaf surface, interspersed with hydrating jelly capsules. During the mating process, the frogs fold the leaf around their batch of eggs using their limbs, with a jelly plug at the bottom of the folded leaf to prevent eggs from falling out. At hatching, the jelly plug is liquified, and the tadpoles drop through the previously plugged hole. These nests are made above water, so when this occurs the tadpoles drop into a suitable habitat, where they begin their lives as filter feeders.Scientific classification
- Family Hylidae
- Genus Phyllomedusa
- Phyllomedusa araguari
- Phyllomedusa atelopoidesPhyllomedusa atelopoidesPhyllomedusa atelopoides is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, possibly Colombia, and possibly Ecuador....
- Phyllomedusa ayeayePhyllomedusa ayeayePhyllomedusa ayeaye is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, rivers, and freshwater marshes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
- Phyllomedusa azurea, Southern Orange-Legged Leaf Frog
- Phyllomedusa bahiana
- Phyllomedusa balteaPhyllomedusa balteaPhyllomedusa baltea is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is endemic to Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes and intermittent freshwater marshes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
- Phyllomedusa bicolorPhyllomedusa bicolorThe Giant leaf frog is a hylid frog found throughout the Amazon Rainforest of northern Bolivia, western and northern Brazil, south-eastern Colombia, eastern Peru, southern and eastern Venezuela, and the Guianas. Locally, it also occurs in riverine forest in the Cerrado...
, Giant Leaf Frog - Phyllomedusa bolivianaPhyllomedusa bolivianaPhyllomedusa boliviana is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montanes, intermittent freshwater marshes, and ponds.It is threatened by habitat...
- Phyllomedusa burmeisteriPhyllomedusa burmeisteriThe Burmeister's leaf frog is a hylid frog native to the Atlantic Forest biome in Brazil, specially in Ouro Preto. This species is now jeopardized by biopiracy because it produces a waxy secretion that has medicinal uses....
, Burmeister's Leaf Frog - Phyllomedusa cambaPhyllomedusa cambaPhyllomedusa camba is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, intermittent freshwater marshes, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest.-References:* De la Riva, I., Jungfer,...
- Phyllomedusa centralisPhyllomedusa centralisPhyllomedusa centralis is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitats are moist savanna, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, and rivers.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
- Phyllomedusa coelestisPhyllomedusa coelestisPhyllomedusa coelestis is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rivers.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
- Phyllomedusa distinctaPhyllomedusa distinctaPhyllomedusa distincta is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and freshwater marshes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
- Phyllomedusa duellmaniPhyllomedusa duellmaniPhyllomedusa duellmani is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is endemic to Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, rivers, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marches.It is threatened by habitat loss....
- Phyllomedusa ecuatorianaPhyllomedusa ecuatorianaPhyllomedusa ecuatoriana is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is endemic to Ecuador.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, rivers, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marches....
- Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis, Northern Orange-Legged Leaf Frog
- Phyllomedusa iheringiiPhyllomedusa iheringiiPhyllomedusa iheringii is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is found in Brazil and Uruguay.Its natural habitats are temperate shrubland and intermittent freshwater marshes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
- Phyllomedusa itacolomi
- Phyllomedusa neildi
- Phyllomedusa nordestina
- Phyllomedusa oreadesPhyllomedusa oreadesPhyllomedusa oreades is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, and rivers.-Source:...
- Phyllomedusa palliataPhyllomedusa palliataPhyllomedusa palliata is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and possibly Colombia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and intermittent freshwater marshes....
- Phyllomedusa perinesosPhyllomedusa perinesosPhyllomedusa perinesos is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marches....
- Phyllomedusa rohdeiPhyllomedusa rohdeiPhyllomedusa rohdei is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, moist savanna, rivers, arable land, pastureland, plantations , rural gardens, urban areas, and heavily degraded former forest.-References:*...
- Phyllomedusa sauvagiiPhyllomedusa sauvagiiPhyllomedusa sauvagii, commonly known as the Waxy Monkey Leaf Frog, is a hylid frog belonging to the subfamily of South and Central American leaf frogs, Phyllomedusinae that inhabits the Chaco of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. The subfamily consists of around 50 species in three well...
, Waxy Monkey Leaf Frog - Phyllomedusa tarsius, Tarsier Leaf Frog
- Phyllomedusa tetraploideaPhyllomedusa tetraploideaPhyllomedusa tetraploidea is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, freshwater marshes, pastureland, and heavily degraded former forest.It is threatened by habitat...
- Phyllomedusa tomopterna, Barred Leaf Frog
- Phyllomedusa trinitatis
- Phyllomedusa vaillantii
- Phyllomedusa venustaPhyllomedusa venustaPhyllomedusa venusta is a species of frog in the Hylidae family.It is found in Colombia and Panama.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marches, and heavily degraded former...
- Genus Phyllomedusa