About Pleurodema brachyops (Cope, 1869)
Taxonomy and Naming
The Colombian four-eyed frog, scientifically named Pleurodema brachyops, and called sapito lipon in Spanish, is a species of frog belonging to the family Leptodactylidae.
Geographic Range
Its range extends from Guyana and northern Brazil (specifically Roraima state), through Venezuela (including Isla Margarita) and Colombia, to Panama and the Dutch Caribbean.
Etymology of Common Name
Its common name "four-eyed frog" comes from two inguinal poison glands that resemble eyes.
Defensive Posture
When this frog feels threatened, it lowers its head and raises its rear. This posture lifts the poison glands closer to the predator, and the predator may mistake the frog's raised posterior for the head of a larger animal.
Natural Habitat
The natural habitat of the Colombian four-eyed frog is open savanna and grassland.
Species Abundance
It is a very common species.
Breeding and Dispersal
Although these frogs use small ephemeral or permanent water pools for breeding, they can be found far from standing water.
Dry Season Behavior
During the dry season, they hide in soil and only emerge when the rains begin.
