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Frogs of Zihuatanejo

ORDER ANURA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Amphibians (Class Amphibia)

-Frogs and Toads (Order Anura)

-Terraranas (Superfamily Brachycephaloidea)

-Rain Frogs (Family Eleutherodactylidae)

-Subfamily (Eleutherodactylinae)

-Rain Frogs (Genus Eleutherodactylus)

-White-lipped Rain Frog (Eleutherodactylus albolabris)


The Eleutherodactylus albolabris rain frog has a range from southern Mexico to northern Nicaragua, and prefers humid forests and grasslands as its habitat. They are insectivores, feeding on a wide variety of small invertebrates. During mating season, they are especially active and can often be heard calling loudly in the night. They get their name from the sound of their call, which is similar to the sound of rain. These frogs are also known to be especially social, often congregating in large groups.

White-lipped Rain Frog

Eleutherodactylus albolabris

Description

  • Eleutherodactylus albolabris is a small terrestrial frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. Adults have a compact body, relatively long legs, prominent eyes, and a generally brown, grey, or tan coloration that provides camouflage among leaf litter and soil. The species is distinguished by its pale or whitish upper lip, reflected in the name albolabris, meaning “white-lipped”.

Range

  • Eleutherodactylus albolabris is a Mexican species occurring along parts of the Pacific slope. Its distribution includes western and southern Mexico, including Guerrero, and it may be encountered around Zihuatanejo in suitable habitats.

Habitat

  • This frog is associated with warm terrestrial environments including tropical dry forest, scrub, woodland, rocky areas, and leaf-litter-covered ground. Adults shelter beneath rocks, logs, leaf litter, and other ground cover and become more active during humid or rainy conditions.

Diet

  • Adults feed primarily on small terrestrial invertebrates, including ants, beetles, termites, spiders, mites, and other small arthropods. Like other Eleutherodactylus, it is adapted to terrestrial reproduction, with development occurring in eggs laid in moist terrestrial sites rather than requiring a free-swimming tadpole stage.

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