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Description

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Originally described by Cope (1894), the type specimen is catalogued in the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH 5463; Zweifel 1964). This species is a member of the palmipes group (Hillis and de Sa 1988). The snout is short, rounded and wide, with the interorbital area larger than the eyelids (Villa 1988). Dorsolateral folds are present and are broad, flat and glandular. The tongue is deeply notched. Toe tips are expanded and the webbing between the toes is reduced. The first finger of the male has a delicately rugose nuptial pad, which is the same color as the skin and visible only under magnification. Vocal sacs and slits are absent in this species. There is marked sexual dimorphism, with the female larger in size than the males. The dorsal folds are marked by bicolored stripes, and the folds themselves are dark brown with a lighter, usually narrow golden stripe above. The striping starts above the eye and runs the length of the body. Distinctively, the eye has a green iris (Zweifel 1964; Villa 1988). Adult coloration is variable. Some individuals have a bright green dorsal color with small dark spots bordered in gold. In this form, the canthal region is brown, with the color fading beneath the eye and through the tympanic region until meeting the dorsolateral fold. A greenish gold stripe runs along the upper lip. Limbs are green dorsally, with some brown and gold speckling. The flanks, palms, and soles are pink to orange-red. In contrast, other individuals are reddish brown with darker dorsal spotting. In this second form, the dorsolateral folds are yellowish brown with a diffuse dark streak. The flanks and dorsal region of the limbs are also a yellowish brown. There is a loosely defined dark streak extending from the canthal region and continuing above and posterior to the tympanum. Both of these color variations are found in natural populations, Although Zweifel (1964) stated that "the green adults are decidedly in the minority," Villa (1988) noted no dominance of coloration pattern. The amount of spotting on individuals varies greatly also, from none at all to very large numerous spots. The larvae are brown, paler in the tail fin, but without a definite pattern. Larger larvae develop an olive-green ground color with dark spotting. The mouth is small, with a single continuous row of denticles followed by four rows divided by the upper beak. The first lower row is also continuous, followed by a maximum of three uninterrupted rows (Villa 1988).The specific name is derived from the Latin word vibicis, meaning the mark of a whip, in reference to the distinctive dorsolateral folds (Villa 1988).A Spanish-language species account can be found at the website of Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio) (http://darnis.inbio.ac.cr/FMPro?-DB=UBIpub.fp3&-lay=WebAll&-Format=/ubi/detail.html&-Op=bw&id=4407&-Find).

References

  • Villa, J. D. (1988). ''Rana vibicaria (Cope) Rana montañera.'' Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, 437.1-437.2.
  • Zweifel, R. G. (1964). ''Distribution and life history of a Central American frog, Rana vibicaria.'' Copeia, 1964(2), 300-308.

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Distribution and Habitat

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Rana vibicaria is found at relatively high elevations, between 1500 and 2700 m above sea level in the Cordillera Tilarán and the Cordillera Central and Cordillera Talamanca of Costa Rica, southeast to Volcan Irazu Chiriqui in western Panama. It inhabits montane and lower montane rainforest (Villa 1988; Savage 2002).
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Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors

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The mating call of this species is distinctive because of its softness, attributed to the lack of vocal sacs in the males. Interestingly, R. vibicaria and R. warszewitschii are the only frogs of the palmipes group to vocalize without vocal slits or sacs. The male produces both a harsh trill and an untrilled note similar in duration and structure to the trill. Trilled calls may be given from one to five times in succession and may be followed by up to three untrilled calls, an untrilled note never starts a calling session (Zweifel 1964). This species is semi-aquatic (Stuart et al. 2008). Breeding occurs in shallow bodies of water, ponds or slow moving streams (Villa 1988). Eggs have been observed from November to May, as well as tadpoles of all sizes, which suggests a long larval period (Zweifel 1964; Lips 1998).
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Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors

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This species is considered Vulnerable, because it has suffered a decline in numbers of more than 80% over just the past three generations. Chytridiomycosis appears to be the main culprit, but other factors include habitat loss and pollutants. Surviving populations are known from near Monteverde, Costa Rica, and the Parque Nacional Juan Castro Blanco, Costa Rica. No recent reports have been made from Panama. Individuals from the population near Parque Nacional Juan Castro Blanco have been found with deformities, possibly due to agricultural chemicals; a lack of larvae has also been reported (Stuart et al. 2008).
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Lithobates vibicarius

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Lithobates vibicarius, commonly known as either green-eyed frog (after its green eyes)[2] or Rancho Redondo frog (after its type locality in Costa Rica),[2][3] is a species of frog in the family Ranidae from highland rainforests in Costa Rica and western Panama.[1][2][3][4]

Description

Lithobates vibicarius are relatively large frogs, 6–9 cm (2.4–3.5 in) in snout–vent length.[4] Dorsal colouration is variable: golden, greenish, or dull brown; juveniles are usually green. There are at least some darker markings on the dorsum of most individuals. The dorsolateral folds typically have black linings on the outer edges. A black face mask is typical. The upper lip has white lining. The iris is green. Feet are extensively webbed.[2]

Reproduction

Breeding may occur throughout the year but is concentrated to the early parts of the rainy season.[2] Calling and mating take place at night. Males generally call from vegetation in water.[1] The call is a low, harsh trill. Eggs are laid in large, round gelatinous masses in shallow bodies of water,[2] attached to the vegetation.[1]

Habitat and conservation

Lithobates vibicarius is a semi-aquatic frog found in lower montane and lower portions of montane rainforest. They prefer dense woods, but may also be found near water in clearings or pastures.[1]

Lithobates vibicarius was once very common in Costa Rica, but has almost disappeared; only three populations are known at present. Surveys in Panama have failed to find the species. This decline is believed to be mainly due to the disease chytridiomycosis, although habitat loss and agricultural chemicals may also have played a role. The IUCN now lists it as endangered.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Lithobates vibicarius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T58746A54352894. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T58746A54352894.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Lithobates vibicarius". Amphibians of Panama. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  3. ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Lithobates vibicarius (Cope, 1894)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  4. ^ a b Luis Humberto Elizondo C.; Federico Bolaños V. (2014). "Lithobates vibicarius". Biodiversidad de Costa Rica. Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
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Lithobates vibicarius: Brief Summary

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Lithobates vibicarius, commonly known as either green-eyed frog (after its green eyes) or Rancho Redondo frog (after its type locality in Costa Rica), is a species of frog in the family Ranidae from highland rainforests in Costa Rica and western Panama.

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