Description
provided by AmphibiaWeb articles
Lepidobatrachus laevis is a large, stout, aquatic frog with a dorsoventrally flattened body. Females of this species may reach a total body length (SVL) of 100 mm, while a sexually mature male may be only half as large. In both sexes the head is large and robust, composing approximately 1/3 of the total body length, and broad to make room for the extraordinarily wide jaws of these animals. There are large teeth on the upper jaw and two large medially placed teeth or fangs on the lower jaw. The nostrils and eyes are dorsally positioned, the pupils are rhomboidal and the tympanum is distinct. The forelimbs and hind limbs are short, and the forelimbs are held forward while swimming. The digits of the forelimbs are unwebbed, but the digits of the hind limb are fully webbed and a large, spade-like, black inner metatarsal tubercle is present. The skin is mostly smooth except for the raised dorsal glandulae of the lateral line, which are distinct and from a “V” that narrows posteriorly. The dorsal coloration of L. laevis is dark green to gray with darker blotches outlined in orange that becomes more visible laterally. The nostrils and eyes may be outlined by lighter green, perhaps providing camouflage. The ventral surface is white or cream colored and unmarked. Sexually mature males possess a dark blue-black throat (Budgett 1899; Cei 1980).
- Aquino, L., De La Riva, I., and Céspedez, J. (2004). Lepidobatrachus laevis. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.1. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 22 June 2009.
- Budgett, J. S. (1899). ''Notes on the batrachians of the Paraguayan chaco, with observations upon their breeding habits and development, especially with regard to Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis, Cope. Also a description of a new genus.'' The Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, 42(167), 305-333.
- Faivovich, J. (1994). ''La distribución del género Lepidobatrachus (Budgett, 1899) (Leptodactylidae: Ceratophryinae).'' Acta Zoologica Lilloana, 43(1), 137-174.
- Lavilla, E. O., and Cei, J. M. (2001). Amphibians of Argentina, A Second Update, 1987-2000. Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Torino.
- Ruibal, R., and Thomas, E. (1988). ''The obligate carnivorous larvae of the frog Lepidobatrachus laevis (Leptodactylidae).'' Copeia, 1988(3), 591-604.
- Une, Y., Kadekaru, S., Tamukai, K., Goka, K., and Kuroki, T. (2008). ''First report of spontaneous chytridiomycosis in frogs in Asia .'' Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 82, 157-160.
Distribution and Habitat
provided by AmphibiaWeb articles
L. laevis occur in the Gran Chaco of South America, a semiarid region extending into northern Argentina, southern Paraguay, and much of Bolivia. In Argentina this species can be found in the provinces of Chaco, Cordoba, Corrientes, Salta, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero (Faivovich 1994). Within Paraguay it is found in the departments of Alto Paraguay, Boquerón, and Presidente Hayes in Paraguay (Faivovich 1994). In Bolivia it occurs within the departments of Santa Cruz and Tarija (Aquino et al. 2004). Its altitudinal range is from 0-200 m asl (Aquino et al. 2004). Within the chaco, L. laevis is found in ephemeral pools (pozos) that form during the summer rains from October to February. During the wet summer months these frogs feed and breed in the pozos. As the pools dry up at the end of summer the animals burrow into the soft mud using the large tubercles on their hind limbs. They remain inactive underground during the dry winter months.
Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
provided by AmphibiaWeb articles
This species is thought to be more common in Bolivia (the northern portion of its range) and rare in Argentina (Aquino et al. 2004). In spite of the many interesting features of the ecology and morphology of L. laevis, this species remains poorly known. This is perhaps because of their secretive nature, nocturnal habits and long period of inactivity during the dry season. Also, these frogs do not appear to be particularly abundant where they occur. These factors, combined with their strict habitat requirements, make L. laevis vulnerable to habitat modification associated with agriculture and ranching where they occur. This species is also apparently susceptible to chytridiomycosis, with one death reported in a captive specimen (Une et al. 2008).
Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
provided by AmphibiaWeb articles
L. laevis displays a suite of interesting adaptations to the semiarid environment of the Gran Chaco. The rhythm of activity of the adults of this species is synchronized with the extreme climate of this region of South America. During the dry winter months L. laevis remains inactive underground, encased in a hard shell composed of layers of unshed skin. This “cocoon” protects the animal from excessive water loss and allows it to persist until the rains arrive that signal the beginning of the wet summer months, which typically last from October to February. The heavy spring or summer rains flood the chaco and create many temporary pools or “pozos” which provide suitable habitat for L. laevis.Once the pools form L. laevis emerge from their cocoons to feed and breed. These frogs appear to be nocturnal sit-and-wait ambush predators. They remain motionless while submerged in the water or soft mud with only their eyes and nostrils visible. There they wait among grasses and reeds for prey to come within grasp of their strong, powerful jaws. The large size of these frogs and the size of their jaws imply that they feed on large prey, most likely other anurans, large insects and snails. In general these are very aggressive frogs. When disturbed, they inflate themselves and stand on their outstretched limbs to appear larger. If this fails to deter a potential predator, they begin to lunge, bite, and then emit a piercing shriek. This behavior is quite impressive and provides the name for this species in Guarani - kukurú-chiní or “the toad that shrieks” (Vellard 1948).The reproductive biology and larval ecology of L. laevis provide additional examples of the fascinating biology of this particular species of frog. A single breeding event may result in as many as 1400 fertile eggs. The embryos develop very rapidly, a characteristic of many desert anurans that often are in a race against time to metamorphose into adults before their breeding pool dries up. When the tadpoles hatch and begin feeding, however, their uniqueness becomes even more apparent. The tadpoles are carnivorous and cannibalistic and begin feeding almost immediately. Although carnivory and cannibalism are relatively rare among larval anurans, it is the morphology of the jaws of L. laevis tadpoles which sets them apart. Unlike other carnivorous anuran larvae, L. laevis possess nearly adult-like jaws. The cartilages that support the larval jaws are expanded laterally to create a wide, gaping mouth which the tadpoles of this species use to ingest their prey whole. Ruibal and Thomas (1988) illustrate this feeding apparatus in detail and coin the term “megalophagy” to describe the unique larval feeding ecology.
Behavior
provided by IABIN
America do sul,Peru
Conservation Status
provided by IABIN
LC. Least Concern.
- author
- Esteban O. Lavilla
- editor
- Diego Arrieta
Cyclicity
provided by IABIN
ano todo
Diagnostic Description
provided by IABIN
Adult morphology Snout-vent up to 110-120 mm in females. Body flattened, stout, with short arms and legs. Head very broad, with sloping snout, and powerful mandibles and fangs. Head length 1/3 of the total length of the body. Cephalic bones dermostosed, with fine, close ornamenration. Tongue circular, free behind. Vomerine teeth in two small patches between the choanae, Palatine membrane whitish. Interocular distance twice the upper eyelid and larger than the internarial interval. Eyes small, dorsally located, their diameter equal to the distance between eye and nostril and 1/2 of the interocular distance. Nostril closer to the eye than to the tip of snout. Tympanum evident, more than 1/2 of the eye diameter. Its distance from eye twice its own diameter. Fingers free; toes widely webbed. Rate of the finger lengths: I-II-IV-III. Metacaral and subarticular tubercles faint. Strong, spade-like and black, inner metatarsal tubercle. Outer mctatarsa1 tubercle not evident. Tarsal fold inconspicuous. Dorsal skin glandulous. Oblique V-shaped glandular ridges along the vertebral midline. Ventrally granular. Dorsal color brownish or grayish, with indistinct darker blotches. Ventrally white, inmaculate. A darker vocal sac in males. Larval morphology Head and body very strongly depressed, once and one-third as long as broad, twice and one-quarter as broad as deep ; head flat above ; nostrils close together, directed upwards, and twice as far from the end of the snout as from the eyes ; the latter directed lipwards, the distance between them greater than that between the nostrils ; anus median; tail 3 1/3 times as long as deep, with subequal crests, the dorsal extending forwards very slightly on the body. Mouth subterminal, very broad, 5/7 the width of the head ; upper lip with a short fringe bearing a few (20) very small unequal lappets at its free edge; lower lip without a fringe, but bearing a single row of very small widely-spaced papilla on its lower surface; mouth-opening occupying the whole of the oral area and bearing a single row of small conical teeth along both its upper ant1 lower margins; these teeth are serrations of a continuous black horny base, and diminish in size laterally, merging into the basal piece at the corners of the mouth; the upper tooth-row somewewhat longer than the lower and in front of it when the mouth is closed. Color in spirit: Translucent, with irregular in-own spots on the upper surface of the head and body and the upper caudal crest ; the dorsal half of the muscular portion of the tail with a more or less continuous dark stripe ; ventral caudal muscles and crest anti lower surfaces of head and body inmaculated white or with a few small black spots posteriorly.
- author
- Esteban O. Lavilla
- editor
- Diego Arrieta
Reproduction
provided by IABIN
Sementes
Molecular Biology
provided by IABIN
Trapaeoli herba,heterósido sulfurado,óleo essencial,vitamina C(1)
Life Cycle
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perene
Morphology
provided by IABIN
rasteira
Distribution
provided by IABIN
Known from northern, central and eastern areas of Chacoan environments: Argentina (provinces of Chaco, Corrientes, Salta, and Formosa), Bolivia (departments of Santa Cruz and Tarija), and Paraguay (departments of Presidente Hayes, Boquerón, and Alto Paraguay).
- author
- Esteban O. Lavilla
- editor
- Diego Arrieta
Brief Summary
provided by IABIN
Diagnosis A large, flattened toad. Pupil rhomboidal. Interocular distance twice the upper eyelid. No vertebral shield prominent. A double row of pearl-like dorsal glandulae, v-shaped and close to the vertebral midline.
- author
- Esteban O. Lavilla
- editor
- Diego Arrieta
Comprehensive Description
provided by Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology
Lepidobatrachus laevis Budgett
MATERIAL.—USNM 241344 (one specimen dissected, stage 38, SVL 31.2 mm). Adults collected from Filadelfia, Boqueron, Paraguay; larvae raised in laboratory of Rudolfo Ruibal.
REFERENCE.—Cei (1968) described and figured the external morphology of Lepidobatrachus asper and llanensis. The larva of laevis is very similar to the larvae of asper and llanensis.
GENERAL
- bibliographic citation
- Wassersug, Richard J. and Heyer, W. Ronald. 1988. "A survey of internal oral features of Leptodactyloid larvae (Amphibia: Anura)." Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-99. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.457
Lepidobatrachus laevis
provided by wikipedia EN
Lepidobatrachus laevis, widely known as Budgett's frog, is a species of frog in the family Ceratophryidae, discovered by John Samuel Budgett.[2] It is often kept as a pet. It has acquired a number of popular nicknames, including hippo frog,[3] Freddy Krueger frog,[3] and escuerzo de agua.[4]
Description
Lepidobatrachus laevis photographed at Newport Aquarium
This frog has become popular in pet stores due to its comical flat appearance and intelligent behavior. Females reach a size of 100 millimetres (3.9 in) while males sometimes only grow half as large. They have a large head that makes up to 1/3 of the body, with a notably large mouth. Their mouth contains a top row of teeth and two "fangs" on the lower jaw. They have extremely short and stubby limbs and the forelimbs are unwebbed. L. laevis is dark olive green with darker blotches outlined in orange. The males have a dark blue throat.[4]
Diet and behavior
Lepidobatrachus laevis photographed at Kyoto Aquarium
The wide-mouth frog is well adapted to its environment, notably the harsh winter. During this time it will remain inactive underground in a cocoon of shed dead skin which protects it from losing water until they emerge. This species is generally very aggressive and will puff up when threatened to appear larger. If this behavior does not deter the intruder they will make a shrill screech, bite, and corner the target.[5] They are nocturnal and hunt at night, submerged up to their nostrils waiting for prey to pass by. They then lunge and swallow the prey whole. They feed on other frogs, insects, and snails. They have a reputation for being cannibalistic.
Reproduction
L. laevis can produce up to 1400 eggs in a single mating. A pair will reproduce and deposit a mass of fertilized eggs in temporary pools of water. The embryo develops at a rapid rate over two weeks, in order to metamorphize into mobile adolescent form before the breeding pool dries up.[5] The tadpoles are carnivores and cannibalistic at the time of hatching and have nearly adult jaws. They sexually mature in about a year.[6]
Distribution and conservation
It is commonly observed in Paraguay and Bolivia, and less frequently in Argentina. Its natural habitats are the dry and wet Chaco. Breeding may take place in shallow temporary pools and artificial ponds. It is in some areas threatened by habitat loss but there is a large total population size. The species is listed as Least Concern in view of its relatively wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining rapidly enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.[1]
Captivity
These frogs are often kept by keepers with mild experience with frogs or advanced owners. A ten to twenty gallon tank is generally recommended, without aquarium gravel because it causes digestive issues. River stones are a better alternative. Rocks should be sloped to allow the frog to exit the water. They do not require special heating in houses with a comfortable temperature of about 72 °F (22 °C). This species of frog needs to be kept alone or with members of the same species and of equal size, as they will consume anything smaller than themselves.[3]
References
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^ a b Lucy Aquino, Ignacio De la Riva, Jorge Céspedez (2004). "Lepidobatrachus laevis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T57111A11581308. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T57111A11581308.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) -
^ Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Lepidobatrachus laevis Budgett, 1899". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
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^ a b c Rearick, Monica. "Budgett's Frog". Animal-World. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
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^ a b Infante, Carlos R. (22 June 2009). Whittaker, Kellie (ed.). "Lepidobatrachus laevis". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
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^ a b Vellard, J. (1948). Batracios del chaco argentino. Acta Zoologica Lilloana, 5, 137-174.
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^ Faivovich, J. (1994). La distribución del género Lepidobatrachus (Budgett, 1899) (Leptodactylidae: Ceratophryinae). Acta Zoologica Lilloana, 43(1), 137-174.
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Lepidobatrachus laevis: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Lepidobatrachus laevis, widely known as Budgett's frog, is a species of frog in the family Ceratophryidae, discovered by John Samuel Budgett. It is often kept as a pet. It has acquired a number of popular nicknames, including hippo frog, Freddy Krueger frog, and escuerzo de agua.
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- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
