Cuban Khaki Frog

Eleutherodactylus ronaldi is a member of the Eleutherodactylus auriculatus group (subgenus Eleutherodactylus). The digital discs are large. There is no webbing between the toes. The vomerine teeth, behind the choanae, are in a short and straight series (Schwartz 1960; Schwartz and Henderson 1985; Schwartz and Henderson 1991). It is tan with a pale mid-dorsal hairline or a series of seven transverse bars. There is a faint interocular bar or triangle, and a dark brown face mask. The concealed surfaces of the hind limbs are dark brown. The venter is heavily stippled with brown, profusely spotted with white dots. The vocal sac and throat are pale yellow, stippled with brown. (Schwartz 1960; Schwartz and Henderson 1985; Schwartz and Henderson 1991).Eleutherodactylus ronaldi is a member of the Eleutherodactylus auriculatus group (subgenus Eleutherodactylus). Related species include Eleutherodactylus mariposa, E. auriculatus, E. glamyrus, E. bartonsmithi and E. auriculatus (Heinicke et al. 2007). Etymology- Named for Ronald F. Klinikowski, who accompanied the author in collecting the type-series (Schwartz 1960).

This species is endemic to Cuba and it is found only in the Sierra Maestra and Sagua-Baracoa mountains, in eastern Cuba. It occurs in lowland and upland mesic broadleaf forests, and occasionally in pinewoods (Schwartz and Henderson 1991).

This frog is active at night. Males vocalize from shrubs and trees with dense foliage, up to 3 meters above the ground. Vocalization is a slow nonmetallic rapping composed of short “ticks” repeated many times in close, regular intervals (343-405 calls/minute). The dominant frequency is about 3.7-3.8 kHz (Schwartz 1960; Schwartz and Henderson 1991; Hedges et al. 1992).

This species is threatened by habitat destruction as a result of deforestation due to agriculture, woodcutting, disturbance from tourists, and infrastructure development for human settlement (Hedges and Diaz 2004).

Eleutherodactylus ronaldi is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae endemic to Cuba. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.