About Leucostethus fraterdanieli (Silverstone, 1971)
Common Name and Classification
Leucostethus fraterdanieli, commonly known as the Santa Rita rocket frog, is a species of frog belonging to the family Dendrobatidae.
Endemic Distribution
It is endemic to the Andes region of Colombia, where it occurs on the western slopes of the Cordillera Central and on both slopes of the Cordillera Occidental.
Taxonomic Note
Colostethus yaguara may be a junior synonym of this species.
Activity Pattern
This is a diurnal frog that inhabits wet locations.
Habitat Preference
It can typically be found resting on leaf litter in cloud forests and other tropical forests, and it occasionally also occurs on farms that are located near streams.
Elevation Range
Its observed elevation range is between 650 and 2750 meters above sea level.
Protected Area Occurrence
The known range of Leucostethus fraterdanieli includes multiple protected areas, such as Parque Nacional Natural Farallones de Cali, Santuario de Flora y Fauna Otún Quimbaya, and Reserva Costa Rica.
Breeding Period Inference
Based on the observation of tadpoles throughout many times of the year, scientists infer that this species breeds continuously.
Egg Laying and Guarding
Females lay their eggs in leaf litter, and the male guards the egg clutch.
Tadpole Transport Behavior
After the eggs hatch, the male frog carries the tadpoles to a body of water.
Tadpole Carrying Capacity
Scientists have recorded male frogs carrying 10 or 11 tadpoles at one time.
