Download Fact Sheet: Smoky Jungle Frog Leptodactylus pentadactylus In the

Fact Sheet: Smoky Jungle Frog
Leptodactylus pentadactylus
Description:
 Size:
o Length: Up to 7 in (18.5 cm)
 Average weight: The frogs at the Maryland Zoo weigh about 0.15 lb (60-70 g)
 Sexual dimorphism: Females are slightly larger than males
 Physical description: A large frog with paired flaps of skin running from behind the eyes
to the vent (groin). The tympanum, the circle of tissue behind the eye that functions as
an ear, is fairly large.
 Coloration: Gray to reddish-brown, with dark spots or bars. The underside is usually
mottled gray or yellow with tiny white spots. A spotted or barred upper lip is the
defining feature of this species.
In the Wild
Habitat and Range:
 Geographic range: Found in South American countries ranging from southern Colombia
to northern Bolivia
 Preferred habitat: Rainforest habitats near wetlands or slowly flowing streams
Diet:
 Adults are carnivorous, eating bird chicks, snakes, frogs, scorpions, and numerous other
arthropods
 Juveniles are omnivorous. They initially rely on the nutrients left by the adults in their
nest, then move on to algae, and eventually eat eggs and other tadpoles
Adaptations:
 Camouflage: The frog’s brown mottling pattern serves to hide it during the day, when it
is least active.
 Vocalizations: This frog can make a variety of calls. Typically, males will use a sporadic
call to establish territory or attract females. Both sexes also use a sudden screaming call
when caught in order to distract a predator.
 Toxic mucus: Like all frogs, they secrete slimy mucus on their skin that keeps them
moisturized. However, the frog will secrete a specific type of mucus as a threat
response. If ingested, this particular mucus can be highly toxic to most animals.
Lifespan:
 Wild: up to 15 years
 Captivity: up to 15 years
Ecosystem relationships:
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Smoky Jungle Frog
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
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Predators: Are eaten by animals such as coatimundis, snakes, and caimans. Some flies
lay their eggs in frog clutches, and the hatching larvae devour the mass of eggs and
foam.
Interspecies competitors: Likely other semi-aquatic small predators, such as snakes, fish,
and other anurans (frogs and toads).
Role/ Niche: Are an important part of the food chain, serving as a food source to many
other animals, as well as control on the populations of their prey items.
Reproduction:
 Breeding season: Typically occurs during the rainy season between the months of May
to November. This corresponds to food availability, as more arthropods can be found
during late September, when adults arrive at the breeding sites, and January and
February, when juveniles complete the metamorphosis into adults.
 Behavior: Males perform calls to attract the females at water’s edge. The male mounts
the female and hooks his arms under her armpits in a behavior called amplexus. Once
the female lays the eggs, the male will “whip” the jelly surrounding the eggs with his
legs and add sperm to it to create a mix of fertilized eggs surrounded by skin secretions,
water, and air. These foam nests are typically laid in depressions or cavities near water,
so that when heavy rainfall occurs, the developing tadpoles are washed into the stream.
 Clutch size: about 1000 eggs
Activity:
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Nocturnal
o Spend most of the day hiding under rocks or trees
Other “fun facts”:
 Name: The specific name Leptodactlyus pentadactylus refers to the frog’s fingers.
Leptodactylus derives from the Latin lepto-, meaning “thin” or “fine,” and dactyl,
meaning finger. Similarly, pentadactylus is from the Latin penta, meaning “five,” and
dactyl.
 What’s the difference?: Many species in the Leptodactylus genus appear very similar, or
may have similar features. A major characteristic defining each of these species is their
differing mating calls.
Conservation Status and Threats:
 Listed on the IUCN Red List as Least Concern
 CITES- not listed.
 There are several threats to this species. Fortunately, a tolerance to disturbance and
wide geographic distribution means that these threats likely do not have a significant
effect on smoky jungle frog populations.
o Habitat loss is a threat. As areas in the Amazon are cleared for farming, ranching,
or logging pursuits, this animal’s ideal habitat (along with that of many other
species) is lost.
o While the mucus is toxic, the actual meat of the frog is sometimes consumed as
food by indigenous peoples. Since this has a minimal impact on populations, it is
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Smoky Jungle Frog
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
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likely not a major concern for the species.
o The Global Amphibian Crisis
 Worldwide decline in wild populations of frogs, toads and salamanders
observed in the past several decades
 More than one-third of the nearly 6,000 amphibian species known to
science are currently at risk of extinction
 Amphibians are an environmental indicator species, which means that
their populations are usually indicative of overall ecosystem health
 They are susceptible to changes in the ecosystem due to their
permeable skin and ties to both land and water
o Chytrid Fungus
 Batrachochytridium dendrobatidis, or Bd, is a fungus that causes
chytridiomycosis, or chytrid for short
 Chytrid is a condition in which an adult amphibian’s skin is infected with
Bd, leading to a thickening of the skin. Because amphibians can exchange
air, minerals, and other chemicals through their skin, this thickening leads
to an electrolyte imbalance in the blood, and eventual death.
 Successful treatment can only happen in captivity, because the
fungus is wide-spread in the wild
 While the chytrid fungus can infect these frogs, like many anurans, they
appear to act as carriers, and typically suffer few ill effects from the
fungus.
Conservation efforts:
o There are many efforts to conserve wild areas in the Amazon. Because this
species of frog lives in many protected areas, efforts to conserve the habitat
directly benefit the frog, along with numerous other Amazonian species.
o Project Golden Frog
 Formed by concerned biologists in response to the sharp decline in
amphibian species
At the Zoo
The Zoo has 2 smoky jungle frogs, named Hickory and Mesquite. Both hatched in August of
2013 at the Houston Zoo.
What We Can Do
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Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat –
conserve energy, reduce litter and pollution
Do your research before buying a pet
o Make sure you are not purchasing a wild-caught individual – captive-bred turtle
species are often easy to find
o Make sure you know how to properly care for any animal before you decide to
buy it as a pet
 Some things to consider include adequate housing, diet, temperature
requirements and lifespan
 Some pets also require a lot of time and money to be properly cared for
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Smoky Jungle Frog
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
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o Never release pets into the wild. When people introduce non-native species into
the environment, it can upset the balance of the ecosystem. If you ever see an
animal that looks like it does not belong in the wild, call animal control.
We can start in our own backyard!
o Sit outside and listen closely to the sound of frog calls in the evening. There are
frogs near to you.
o Provide them with habitat by avoiding the temptation to over-landscape. If you
do landscape, make sure to populate the area with local plants such as the
black-eyed susan, white oak, and spicebush. Allowing native plants to flourish
encourages native animals to use your own lawn.
o Leave some woods, water, and even tall weeds undisturbed, and go easy on the
pesticide and fertilizer!
o Be careful with your own pets. Cats which spend most of their time outside may
develop a taste for local fauna, and can cause a great deal of damage to local
ecosystems. Keep your cats and dogs inside or in a yard.
References:
 http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?where-genus=Leptodactylus&where-specie
s=pentadactylus
 http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/57154/0
 http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/zoology/pdf_hi/sctz-0301.pdf
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Smoky Jungle Frog
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore