Leptodactylus rhodonotus (Günther 1869)

Leptodactylus rhodonotus, the Peru White-lipped Frog, is a large and robust leptodactylid frog, of the Leptodactylus pentadactylus group (Frost 2015).It inhabits primary east Andean montane and lowland rainforests in the upper Amazonian basin of Bolivia and Peru at altitudes between about 300 m (1000 ft; Rio Espiritu Santo collecting site) and 2050 m asl (6700 ft; Parjacti, Bolivia; Reynolds and Foster 1992; Rodríguez and Duellman 1994). This fairly restricted distribution may also extend into Colombia and Brazil (Frost 2015).They are found in degraded habitats (Angulo et al. 2004; Köhler 2000).

Adult L. rhodonotus have a smooth-skinned brown dorsum laterally striped with darker brown, belly a creamy grey-color, and red-brown, darkly reticulated iris.Their legs are cream-colored with bars and have scattered tubercules that also extend onto the dorsum, especially at the posterior of the body.They do not have webbing on their feet.Males (up to almost 8 cm, 3.1 in, snout vent length) are smaller than females (up to 9 cm, 3.5 in. svl; Reynolds and Foster 1992; Rodríguez and Duellman 1994).

These frogs are terrestrial and nocturnal, and live in burrows or under logs and call at night, especially during rain.They lay eggs in foam nests under logs or rocks, which they then sit under during the day.In breeding season, males grow black cornified nuptial spines on their thumbs and elongate black spines on their chest.Tadpoles grow to about 6 cm (2.4 in) in length in stagnant puddles, ditches or slow moving water (Rodríguez and Duellman 1994).Their call has been recorded as a single note, repeated regularly in 6-8 pulses at some times, at others in more complex pulse structures (Köhler and Lötters 1999; Köhler 2000).

Leptodactylus rhodonotus (Günther), 1868

Cystignathus rhodonotus Günther, 1868:481. [Type-locality: Chyavetas, Peru. Holotype: BMNH 1947.2.17.39, juvenile.]

Gnathophysa rubido Cope, 1874:128. [Type-locality: Moyabamba, San Martin, Peru. Lectotype: MCZ 4780, adult male.]

DIAGNOSIS.—Specimens of rhodonotus have a distinct dark outlined dorsolateral fold from the eye to the sacrum or groin. This condition occurs in some or all individuals of fallax, flavopictus, labyrinthicus, pentadactylus, knudseni, rhodomystax, rugosus, and stenodema. Most rugosus lack dorsolateral folds; when folds are present in rugosus, they are interrupted, contrasting with the continuous folds of rhodonotus. Leptodactylus rhodonotus is a moderate-sized species (maximum adult SVL 90 mm) with two spines per thumb in males; fallax, labyrinthicus, pentadactylus, and knudseni are large species (minimum adult SVL 97 mm) with one spine per thumb in males. Leptodactylus flavopictus is also a large species (minimum adult SVL 112 mm) with smooth upper tibial surfaces contrasting with the tuberculate upper tibial surfaces of rhodonotus. The posterior surface of the thigh is variously mottled in rhodonotus but never has the pattern of discrete, distinct light spots on a dark background found in rhodomystax. Leptodactylus rhodonotus is a smaller species (males 54–79 mm SVL, females 67–90 mm SVL) with male thumb spines present; stenodema is a larger species (males 83–100 mm SVL, females 82–100 mm SVL) lacking male thumb spines. The dorsum of rhodonotus often has a distinctive pattern; the dorsum of stenodema is patternless.

ADULT CHARACTERISTICS (N=87).—Dorsum uniform, with scattered small dots or blotches to complex lattice network (Figure 1, C, I); lip with dark triangular patterns, uniform, or rarely with a distinct light stripe (Figure 2, A–C, E, L, M); posterior surface of thigh almost uniform, mottled, or with contrasting light and dark pattern (Figure 3, A, C, D, P); upper tibia with distinct or indistinct bars or uniformly patterned (Figure 4, D, E); a pair of dark outlined dorsolateral folds from eye to sacrum or groin; dark outlined fold from eye over tympanum to shoulder; dark outlined fold from above tympanum to side of body present or absent, continuous or interrupted; male thumb with two spines per hand; male chest usually with spines, all specimens 65 mm SVL or larger with spines; upper tibial and distal tarsal surfaces with scattered to many white- or black-tipped tubercles; sole of foot usually with scattered black-tipped tubercles, sometimes smooth or with scattered white tubercles; female SVL 75.0±5.8 mm, maximum 89.5 mm, male 67.8±6.7 mm, maximum 79.0 mm; female interorbital distance/head length ratio 0.20±0.02, male 0.20±0.02; female eye-nostril distance/head length ratio 0.24±0.01, male 0.24±0.02; female head length/SVL ratio 0.35±0.01, male 0.36±0.01; female head width/SVL ratio 0.37±0.02, male 0.37±0.02; female femur/SVL ratio 0.40±0.03, male 0.40±0.02; female tibia/SVL ratio 0.42±0.02, male 0.43±0.02; female foot/SVL ratio 0.45±0.02, male 0.46±0.03.

DISTINCTIVE COLORS IN LIFE.—Ventral hind limb surfaces are often pinkish orange. The tips of the digits and the subarticular tubercles are orange (from field notes of J. P. Bogart, R. Etheridge, and D. B. Wake).

LARVAL CHARACTERISTICS.—Eye diameter 9–12 percent head-body length; oral disk subterminal; oral disk entire; oral disk width 17–24 percent head-body length; oral papilla gap 46–62 percent oral disk width; split tooth row anterior to beak just less than 1/2 length entire tooth row anterior to beak; 150–167 denticles in split tooth row anterior to beak; tooth row formulae or ; head-body length 34–37 percent total length; maximum length stage 40, 59 mm.

MATING CALL.—Unknown.

KARYOTYPE.—Diploid number 22, 7 pair median, 3 pair submedian, 1 pair subterminal; secondary constructions in chromosome pair 2 and 7 (Bogart, 1974).

DISTRIBUTION (Figure 16).—This species is known from a limited geographic area in Amazonian Peru and Bolivia.

BOLIVIA. COCHABAMBA: Tarate (UMMZ 68187(3)).

PERU. CUZCO: Quince Mil (FMNH 140470, 140508, 141035); Río Cosñipata, 4 kw SW Santa Isabel, 1700 m (KU 138883). HUANUCO: Chinchao, 5700’ (FMNH 3544); Divisoria, 1600 m (FMNH 56308–13); Exito, valley of the Cayumba (FMNH 5587); Tingo Maria (USNM 196003–11(5)); about 12 km (by Huanuco Rd) S of Tingo Maria, Sector Cueva de las Pavas, Parque National de la Bella Durmiente (USNM 196002). JUNIN: Chancharia, on Río Perene, 2.5 hrs by motor boat below Pampa Silva and approximately 5 mi above entrance of Río Ipok, about 700 m (USNM 196001); Chanchamayo (FMNH 40582–83, 134511); San Ramon, 800 m (KU 135506, MCZ 22823, 22825–26); Tarma, valley of Vitoc R 900 m (FMNH 36832–37). LORETO: Iparia (MCZ 75039–40). MADRE DE DIOS: Avispal (FMNH 140923); La Pampa (FMNH 40289). PASCO: Iscozazin Valley, Chontilla (LACM 40608–47). PUNO: Bella Pampa (FMNH 40280); Camp 4 (FMNH 40287–88); Juliaca (AMNH 6129); Sagrario, Río Quitún (FMNH 40270–79); Santo Domingo (FMNH 40281–86). SANDIA: Tambopata, San Juan (FMNH 64930–32). SAN MARTÍN: Moyobamba (MCZ 4780); Tocache Nuevo, Río Huallaga (USNM 196000).

Leptodactylus rhodonotus is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forest, aquaculture ponds, irrigated land, and canals and ditches.