Another species name change for one of Trinidad's frog

(Banana tree dwelling frog, Boana platanera - formerly/most recently known as Boana xerophylla, from Trinidad. Photo by Renoir Auguste). There has once again been a change in the species name for one of Trinidad and Tobago's frogs. The species (and genus) name for this frog has gone through many changes. From Hyla crepitans - Hypsiboas crepitans - Boana crepitans - Boana xerophylla - now, it is Boana platanera for all populations north of the Orinoco Basin (including Trinidad and Tobago populations) based on updated genetic and call data (link to study here). This is no doubt a challenge to persons and organizations adapting and keeping up with the correct list of species names found here in the country. But these taxonomic changes do serve an important purpose as it sheds light on species diversity. It may not be surprising if the name chamges again, as more data comes through. But for now, the rattled-voice or emerald-eyed tree frog will be updated to be known as the Banana tree dwelling frog, Boana platanera, here, in Trinidad and Tobago.

Cloacal prolapse in a Trinidad frog

Photo of Emerald-eyed treefrog (Boana xerophylla) by Renoir Auguste. In the latest edition of the journal Herpetological Review 53(3) 2022: page 464, features a natural hsitory note documenting cloacal prolapse in a local frog found across Trinidad and Tobago. To learn more about it, see the link here. Click on Herpetological Review 53, under edition 3, natural history notes, download pdf, page 464.

Herping in Trinidad and Tobago (Part 1): Environmentally Sensitive Areas

(Aripo Savannas Environmentally Sensitive Area, Trinidad. Photo by Renoir Auguste). Currently, there are tree designated Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in Trinidad and Tobago: The Aripo Savannas, Matura, and Nariva Swamp. Each comprises a variety of hbitats, from savanna grassland, to wet forests, coastal beaches, and marsh swamps. Because of this, there are a high diversity of amphibians and reptiles. Example of some of the herpetofauna found in these ESAs can be found here and here. For local and international persons interested in seeing native herpetofauna, these three areas are highly recommended. Whether you want to see nesting leatherback turtles, venomous snakes, or a range of frog species, Trinidad's three ESAs are the places to visit. All three do require permits to enter from the Forestry Division of Trinidad and Tobago. For persons not familiar, hiring a guide is strongly recommended, and needed (for Matura beach). For more information on herping in Trinidad's three ESAs, do not hesitate to contact me. Stay tuned for a follow up post where I will highlight other areas in Trinidad and Tobago where herping would be must see places to check out!

(The venomous Bothrops atrox, Fer-de-lance, observed in Matura, Trinidad. Photo by Renoir Auguste).

(Rhinoclemmys punctularia, Painted-wood turtle, observed in Aripo Savannas, Trinidad. Photo by Renoir Auguste).

(Pseudis paradoxa, paradox frog, observed in Nariva Swamp, Trinidad. Photo by Renoir Auguste).

One of Trinidad's elusive frogs: is it restricted to the southwest of the island?

(Photograph by Renoir Auguste). Barbour's thin-toed ditch frog (Leptodactylus insularum) is widely found across South America. In Trinidad, though, records of this frog are mostly only from southwest Trinidad - near Icacos and Cedros (Murphy et al. 2018). Or so we thought? Recently, the frog has been observed (by me) in southeast Trinidad - at the same locality over both wet season in August 2021 and the dry season in May 2022. This suggests that a stable population occurs there, in addition to the population in southwest Trinidad. This is a native frog species that feeds on insects. They have also been found to have important antimicrobial properties in their skin, thus offering potential medical importance to people. Greater appreciation and effort are needed to protect this elusive frog from southern Trinidad. To learn more about the frogs found in Trinidad and Tobago, and why they are important to the environment and people, check out the Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Trinidad and Tobago (link).

Conservation of three endemic Pristimantis frogs in Trinidad and Tobago

Pristimantis is one of the most species rich genus of animals on Earth. Trinidad and Tobago has three species of frogs in that genus. One is found in Trinidad and Tobago (Urich's litter frog Pristimantis urichi), the other two are found on Tobago only (Charlotteville litter frog P. charlottevillensis, and Turpin's litter frog P. turpinorum). A recent published study (link here) provided updated and novel information on the ecology, conservation status, and genetics of these frogs. Based on the conservation status, the frogs were previously listed as Vulnerable, Least Concern, and Vulnerable, respectively (for P. urichi, P. charlottevillensis, P. turpinorum). However, based on the ecological information such as distribution and relative abundance, these were amended to be Least Concern, Vulnerable, and Data Deficient, respectively. More genetic data are needed for populations in South America, but data in this study found that P. turpinorum is closely related to Venezuelan species, more so than P. urichi and P. charlottevillensis. Further biological information is needed, especially for P. turpinorum which was classified as Data Deficient. How threats such as climate change and land use change will affect these frogs remain larely unknown. Hopefully these gaps will be filled in the near future so as to protect these unique and endemic frogs which play an integral role in biodiversity. To learn more about one of these three frogs, see this local newspaper story feature (link here).

Pristimantis turpinorum pair observed in the Main Ridge Forest Reserve. Photo by Renoir Auguste.