Yellow-striped pygmy eleuth

The yellow-striped pygmy eleuth (Eleutherodactylus limbatus), also known as the yellow-striped dwarf frog, is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae from closed mesic and xeric forests in Cuba.[1]

Yellow-striped pygmy eleuth
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Eleutherodactylidae
Genus: Eleutherodactylus
Species:
E. limbatus
Binomial name
Eleutherodactylus limbatus
(Cope, 1862)
Synonyms

Phyllobates limbatus Cope, 1862
Eleutherodactylus (Euhyas) limbatus (Cope, 1862)
Euhyas limbatus (Cope, 1862)

The yellow-striped pygmy eleuth is relatively brightly marked in orange-yellow and among the smallest frogs in the world, up to 1.18 cm (0.46 in) in snout–to–vent length with males marginally smaller than females.[2] It is part of a closely related Cuban group that contains five additional described species (E. cubanus, E. etheridgei, E. iberia, E. jaumei and E. orientalis) and at least one undescribed species; most of which are of tiny size, relatively brightly colored and possibly aposematic (at least E. iberia and E. orientalis have alkaloid toxins in their skin). Among these, the yellow-striped pygmy eleuth is unique in being quite widespread in Cuba, whereas the others all have very small ranges in the eastern part of the island.[3]

Mating calls and reproduction

E. limbatus has a very intense mating call, but it is brief (6.9 to 24.8 milliseconds) and high-pitched (6.5 to 8.3 kHz), at a rate of 278 per minute. Female frogs have a single ovary and lay one egg at a time, which is subsequently buried in the ground, where it develops quickly.[4]

A relative comparison of the world's smallest frogs

Habitat

These frogs are found in Cuba at elevations up to 1,150 m above sea level, in closed-canopy mesic and xeric forests. Their distribution is highly fragmented,[5] with the total land area equaling 7,700 mi2 (20,000 km2).[1] Within this limited area, though, they are quite numerous.[6]

References
  1. Blair Hedges, Luis Díaz (2010). "Eleutherodactylus limbatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T56719A11523010. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T56719A11523010.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Eleutherodactylus limbatus". AmphibiaWeb. Berkeley, California. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  3. Rodríguez, A.; R. Alonso; J.A. Rodríguez; M. Vences (2012). "Geographic distribution, colour variation and molecular diversity of miniature frogs of the Eleutherodactylus limbatus group from Cuba". Salamandra. 48 (2): 71–91.
  4. "Ranita Pigmea". eleuthare.com. Archived from the original on 2009-12-27.
  5. "Eleutherodactylus limbatus range map". IUCN.
  6. "Eleutherodactylus limbatus". natureserve.

Further reading
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