Common names:
Spiny Giant Frog [1].
Classification:
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Amphibia
Order - Anura
Family - Eleutherodactylidae
Species - Eleutherodactylus nortoni
Distribution:
Eleutherodactylus nortoni is only found in three regions of The Dominican Republic and Haiti; the Massif de la Hotte, the Massif de la Selle, and Sierra de Bahoruco (Figure 2) [1, 2]. This species has been recorded from 576-1515m above sea level [1].
Details:
The Spiny Giant Frog is found in sinkhole caves in upland broadleaf forest and forest remnants, it does not like disturbed habitats [1]. During breeding, males call from tall vegetation and rocks [1, 3]. Breeding occurs independently of water and eggs are laid on the ground [1].
This is an uncommon specie and the population is declining [1]. The population is predicted to decline over 80% in the next 10 years [1]. The species occurs in three national parks in Haiti and the Dominican Republic but the parks are poorly managed for conservation [1, 3]. Better protection and more research is essential to prevent extinction for this species.
Threats to the species:
Agricultural expansion [1].
Mining [1].
Deforestation [1].
Similar species:
References:
[1] IUCN Red List. (2018). Spiny Giant Frog, Eleutherodactylus nortoni. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/56796/11526362. [Accessed 5 May 2019].
[2] Hedges, S. B. and Thomas, R. (1987) ‘A NEW BURROWING FROG FROM HISPANIOLA WITH COMMENTS ON THE INOPTATUS GROUP OF THE GENUS ELEUTHERODACTYLUS (ANURA : LEPTODACTYLIDAE)’, Herpetologica, 43(3), pp. 269–279.
[3] IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013) ‘FrogLog’, FrogLog, 21(106).
Photo: Haiti National Trust. (n.d.). Macaya. [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.haititrust.org/macaya [Accessed 5 May 2019].
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