About Leptodactylus validus Garman, 1888
Nomenclature
The Windward ditch frog, also called the smooth-skinned ditch frog, has the scientific name Leptodactylus validus, and is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae.
Distribution
Its known range includes the Lesser Antilles (Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago), the Guianas (French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname), the northernmost state of Brazil (Roraima), and Venezuela.
The portion of its range in the Lesser Antilles may be the result of human introduction.
Range Extensions
The species was first recorded in Colombia in 2018.
Taxonomic History
In 2006, researchers determined that the previously recognized continental species Leptodactylus pallidirostris is the same species as Leptodactylus validus.
When L. pallidirostris was still considered a separate species, it was described as living in gallery forests and forest edges.
Lesser Antilles Habitat
Populations of this species in the Lesser Antilles live in forests and forest edges, and are often found close to forest stream banks, shaded gullies, and caves.
They can also be found in meadows, along roadsides in parks, and in rural yards.
Reproduction
The species lays its eggs in streams and ditches, where tadpoles complete their development.
Elevation Range
This frog has been observed at elevations up to 1,700 metres (5,600 ft) above sea level.
Size
Males of this species reach a snout–vent length of 28–43 mm (1.1–1.7 in), while females reach 30–52 mm (1.2–2.0 in).
