A New Amazonian Species of the Frog Genus Colostethus (Dendrobatidae) that Lays its Eggs on Undersides of Leaves
We describe adults, tadpoles, advertisement calls, and provide information on the natural history of a new Amazonian species of Colostethus from Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed by small size, sexual dimorphism in ventral coloration, absence of median lingual process, white throat in males, testis white in adult males, absence of dorsolateral and ventral stripes, terminal discs of digits swollen, absence of swollen Finger III, fringes and webs absent on fingers, rudimentary interdigital webs between Toes III and IV. The species also differs from other described Colostethus species in tadpole morphology and acoustics. This species is the first Colostethus known to lay its eggs on the lower surface of leaves. Clutches of C. subfolionidificans, new species, are composed of about six to eight white eggs and are attended by the male. The tadpoles develop on the lower surface of leaves until stage 25, when they are carried by the male to complete metamorphosis in pools.Abstract

Dorsal view of male INPA-H 13760 (A) and female INPA-H 13753 (C), ventral view of male (B) and female (D) and lateral view of male (E) and female (F).

Male of Colostethus subfolionidificans, showing the white throat (A) and a female (B).
Photographs by A. P. Lima.

Hand (A) and foot (B) of male INPA-H 13760.

Spectrogram and waveform of advertisement call of Colostethus subfolionidificans (INPA-H 13760).

Tadpole of Colostethus subfolionidificans, INPA-H 14823, lateral (A) and ventral (B) views.
Photographs by A. P. Lima.

Oral disc of Colostethus subfolionidificans tadpole (INPA-H 14823).

Egg clutch of Colostethus subfolionidificans on underside of leaf.
Photograph by A. P. Lima.
Contributor Notes
CoordenaÇão de Pesquisas em Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, CP 478, 69011-970, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. E-mail: (APL) lima@inpa.gov.br; (DEAS) biosanchez@yahoo.com.br; and (JRDS) jesus@sosamazonia.org.br. Send reprint requests to APL.