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Family: Hylidae
Coronated Treefrog, more...Crowned Treefrog, Spiny-headed Treefrog (es: Rana Del Árbol Coronada)
[Gastrotheca coronata Stejneger, 1911] |
Adult: Species description based on Duellman (2001) and Savage (2002). A large frog with many, sharp, pointed projections on the head and dorsal surface. All individuals have a large tympanum. Males 59-69 mm, females 58-80 mm. Dorsal: Patterning is variable, but consists of small to large black, brown or tan blotches or spots on a creamy gray to tan background. Ventral: Ventral surface is smooth and dark brown or black. Eye: Iris bronze to copper in color. Pupil round. Extremities: Hands without webbing and feet with a small amount of webbing. Breeding season: Males call from water-filled treeholes and bromeliads (Jungfer 1996). Mating behavior has been observed in captivity. Following amplexus, the pair dives into the water and with the cloacae pointing out of the water, affix eggs to the sides of containers above the surface of the water (Jungfer 1996). Egg: Eggs are dark grey and white (Jungfer 1996). White larvae hatch in 6-7 days (Jungfer 1996). Tadpole: Tadpoles are dark brown. The tail is lighter in color with some mottling. Mouth contains a large beak and 2 teeth rows on top and bottom (Savage 2002). Tadpoles develop in water-filled cavities of trees and bromeliads (Robinson 1961, Jungfer 1996). . Metamorph juvenile: Juveniles have similar coloration as adults, but lack the spines (Robinson 1961, Duellman 2001, Savage 2002). Habitat: Premontane cloud forest and occasionally upper lowland rainforest between 300 and 1800 m. Call: Males have no vocal slits, but produce a very loud "boop, boop, boop" call (Duellman 2001, Savage 2002). Behavior and communication: Females return to the site and deposit unfertilized eggs for their offspring to consume (Jungfer 1996). They are stimulated to deposit these eggs by contact from tadpoles (Jungfer 1996). Karyotype: 2N = 24 (Sessions 1978) Evolotion: Smith et al (2007) studied the evolution of novel characteristics in some Central American treefrogs. The study demonstrates the presence of a "hot spot" of origin of novel cranial features within the treefrogs, including Anotheca spinosa. Type locality: "Brasilien" |