Land verts of costa rica

Rhynophrynidae

“Drunk Toad”

• Primitive family (only 1 living species)

• this frog remains underground: burrows and chambers

• Lacks: breastbones, ribs, and teeth

• 4 toes in hind limbs

• tongue is attached to the back of its mouth

• only known from seasonally dry forest in Guanacaste Province

• Rhinophrynus dorsalis

• …

Hemiphractidae

“Marsupial Frogs”

• Predominantly South American

• Females with modified skin fold

• Gastrotheca cornuta - only species in CR (very rare)

• Pointed, flap-like projections on the upper eyelids

• Expanded disks on fingers and toes

Microhylidae

“Narrowmouthed Frogs”

• 3 species in CR

• Fossorial lifestyle

• Transverse skin fold across the head

• Hardened sharp shovel-live tubercles on their feet

• Short powerful legs

Bufonidae

“True Toads”

• 3 genera: Incilius (12 sp), Rhinella (1sp), and Rhaebo (1 sp)

• Formerly genus Bufo

• Stocky and short-limbed

• Two parotid glands

• Cranial crests

• Glands scattered over the dorsal skin

• Dry and warty skin

Rhaebo haematiticus

Oversized oaritud glands…

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Harlequin Toads

• …

• One of the most endangered taxa in the world

• slender bodies and smooth skin

• long limbs

• bright colors play a role in communication and as antipredator mechansims…

• ….

Centrolenidae: Glass frogs

• 14 species, 5 genera in CR

• Strictly arboreal

• Tips of fingers and toes expanded and truncated- Adaptation arboreal life

• Eyes face forward

• Transparent undersides

STOPPED PAYING ATTENTION

Ranidae:….

Leptiodactylidae

“Foam-nest frogs”

• Medium-sized to very large frogs

• Similar to true frogs

• Absence of fingers and toes disks

• Streamlined body, pointed snout, large eyes

• Unwebbed hands and feet

• Strong and powerful legs

• 6 species

Craugastoridae

“Litter frogs”

• extremely variable in body size, shape, coloration and preferred habitat

• Defined on the basis of molecular traits

• Direct development

• 30 sp in CR, all Craugastor

Eleutherodactylidae

“Dink frogs”

• 7 species, 2 genera

• Diasporus (5sp)

• …

• …

Strabomantidae

“Rain frogs”

• 2 genera

• Pristimantis (9sp): A large South American group

• (>470 sp)…

• …

• …

Hylidae

“Tree Frogs”

• Largest family of frogs in CR

• 44 species, 15 genera

• Expanded round disks on the tip of toes and fingers, usually of equal size

• Almost all with some amount of webbing

• Extremely variable in shape and size

• Wide variety of habitats

• Also have a reticulated membrane on their eye

Dendrobatidae

“Poison Dart Frogs”

• 8 species, 5 genera in CR. Not all ae poisonous

• All diurnal

• Parental care

• Extremely territorial

• Toxic secretions derived from their diet

• …

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Aromobatidae

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Order Gimnophiona

Ceacillida

Gymno=

naked

Ophion=

Snake

How many species?

209

…

Gimnophiona characteristics

• no limbs, girdles, or sternal elements

• eyes vestigial, covered by skin or skin and skull bones

• chemosensory tentacle

• teeth present on upper and lower jaws

• no tympanum and middle ear

• annular grooves and folds that form rings

• larvae with true teeth and a single gill slit