Map Treefrog

Hypsiboas geographicus has a maximum length of 55 mm for males and 75 mm for females (Bartlett and Bartlett 2003). It varies greatly in color and patterning and may possibly be a species complex (Stuart et al. 2008) Skin is smooth (Duellman 1973). Fingers are one-half webbed and toes are three-quarters webbed (Bartlett and Bartlett 2003). A triangular calcar (heel spur) is a distinguishing characteristic (Duellman 1973). Breeding males have nuptial pads (Bartlett and Bartlett 2003) and a single median subgular vocal sac (Duellman 1973). The presence of webbing on the hand and the reticulated palpebrum distinguish this species from H. calcarata and H. fasciata (Duellman 1973). This species undergoes ontogenetic change in coloration. Tadpoles are all black while recently metamorphosized frogs are creamy tan with black flecks on the dorsal surfaces. Young froglets also have grayish venters and black flanks, anterior and posterior thighs, and inner shank surfaces. With growth, adult pigmentation replaces juvenile coloration and the dorsal black spots, frequently including an X-shaped scapular marking. The black markings on the flanks and thighs concentrate to create patterning or bars in adults, though young breeding males sometimes still retain black thighs and flanks. Sides are a clean gray. The venter is white or orange in adult frogs, and may be creamy or have black spots, the latter particularly in larger females. Webbing is brown except in individuals from Bolivia and southern Peru, which have red webbing. The iris is reddish brown and the palpebrum (eyelid) has striking reticulations (Bartlette and Bartlett 2003; Duellman 1973). Individuals from the same locality may be boldly or lightly marked. There is also variation in coloration based on locality. Specimens from Bolivia and southern Peru have black ventral spotting on the throat and belly and red webbing. Trinidad specimens have some ventral spotting but have brown webbing (Duellman 1973).Synonymous with Hyla geographica (Azevedo-Ramos et al. 2010)

Found below 500 m except in Ecuador where this species has been reported from elevations up to 1,200 m asl (Stuart et al. 2008). Occurs in many different habitats, from primary forest (along streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes, and in gaps in the forest), flooded savannahs, disturbed areas such as gravel pits, and in Brazil, in Pantanal and Cerrado habitats (Bartlett and Bartlett 2003; Duellman 1978; Rodríguez and Duellman 1994; Stuart et al. 2008).

Hypsiboas geographicus is nocturnal and arboreal (Stuart et al. 2008). Males call from branches or vegetation near or above water. At Santa Cecilia, Ecuador, breeding H. geographicus were found only at a lakeshore and not at temporary ponds or swamps, whereas at Belém, Brazil, males called from varzea forest (Duellman 1973). They are most often heard during the rainy season (Bartlett and Bartlett 2003); calls have been reported at Santa Cecilia, Ecuador, from September to March; at Belém, Brasil, in February, March, June, and July; at Pilcopata, Peru, in January; and at Chipiriri, Bolivia, in February (Duellman 1973). Vocalization is likened to a moaning sound interrupted with chuckles (Bartlett and Bartlett 2003). The length of the call is variable; some H. geographicus produce short notes, others long notes, and some produce both. However, there is no consistent correlation of call note length with coloration (Duellman 1973). Breeding occurs at the edge of rivers and quiet pools. Females can lay up to 2000 eggs at a time (Bartlett and Bartlett 2003). Eggs are laid in water (Stuart et al. 2008). The tadpoles are unpalatable to fish and are therefore able to survive in ponds where other types of tadpoles cannot. However, they are susceptible to larval insect predators, such as aeshnid dragonfly larvae. This contrast is due to toxins in the skin being a deterrent to fish predators but not a deterrent to invertebrates that suck fluids from the body of the tadpole (Caldwell 1989). Tadpole schools exhibit two types of behavioral patterns: stationary and continually moving. The stationary pattern has a thermoregulatory function, while the continuous motion pattern is preferred during tadpole grazing. In the stationary pattern, the tadpoles are in a single, two-dimensional layer and alternate between periods of movement and periods of stillness. As they drift apart, they resume swimming and direct themselves toward the center of the school and by doing so, create a tightly packed aggregation. The continually moving pattern is three-dimensional, giving the appearance of something slowly rolling, and refers to the entire movement of the school as a whole (Caldwell 1989). Adult Hypsiboas geographicus are incapable of quick escape from predators and instead use several other methods to alter their appeal. One often-used method is death-feigning, performed by folding the limbs in tightly, closing the eyes and remaining immobile. To make ingesting difficult for the predator, the frog may also inflate its lungs or extend its legs above its head. It may also empty its bladder, emit a disagreeable odor, or vocalize a rapid distress call (Azevedo-Ramos 1995).

This species is present in a number of protected areas. Within Ecuador these include Parque Nacional Sangay, Parque Nacional Sumaco Napo-Galeras, Parque Nacional Yasuní, Reserva Biológica Limoncocha, and Reserva de Producción Faunística Cuyabeno (Stuart et al. 2008).

Hypiboas geographicus, the map treefrog, is an abundantly occurring hylid frog distributed across tropical South America east of the Andes in the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad island, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil.Usually found below 500m (1640 feet) asl, it occurs up to 1200 m (3900 feet) in Ecuador.It is closely related to Hypiboas calcarata and H. fasciata, the three of them comprise the H. geographicus group.The map treefrog lives in many different habitats, including streams, rivers, ponds and lakes in primary forest and forest gaps, flooded savannahs, disturbed areas, Pantanal and Cerrado habitats of Brazil and are recently reported in “restinga environments” in the Maranhão state, Brazil (Matavelli 2014; Iwaki 2004).

Adult males map treefrogs reach up to 55 mm (2.2 inches) in snout vent length, smaller than the females, which grow to 75 mm (3 inches) svl. They are smooth-skinned with tan sides, reddish brown iris and eyelid with reticulated pattern.Hypiboas geographicus may represent a species complex, as adults are highly variable in coloration across its range, especially of throat, belly and webbing. In addition, over the course of development these frogs undergo coloration change: tadpoles are all black, froglets are tan with black flecks, in adults, the black flecks coalesce to create patterns on the dorsal surface and legs, and their bellies turn from grey to white or orange, some (especially females) develop black splotches (Iwaki 2004; Duellman 1973).

Nocturnal and terrestrial, male Hypsiboas geographicus call during the rainy season from vegetation near permanent and non-permanent water bodies, and sound like “a moaning sound interrupted with chuckles.”There is much variation in call length (Iwaki 2004).A nice video recording of the vocalization of frogs from Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil can be viewed at this link: https://ppbio.inpa.gov.br/sapoteca/hypsiboas_geographicus (recording by W. E. Magnusson).

Females lay up to 2000 eggs in still water pools or ponds.Tadpoles are unpalatable to fish due to skin toxins, but susceptible to predation by dragonfly larvae.Tadpole behavior is complex and has been studied and described by Caldwell (1989).Adult frogs are too slow to escape predators but feign death, emit odors, and give out a distress call to deter them (Iwaki 2004).

The map tree frog (Boana geographica) is a species of frog in the family Hylidae found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, rivers, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, plantations, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forests, ponds, and aquaculture ponds. It was previously known as Hyla geographica. The name comes from the reticulated map-like patterns on its eyelids (palpebrum). The black tadpoles congregate in dense clusters in ponds or other calm waters.

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