Abstract

ROJAS-MORALES, Julián Andrés  and  ESCOBAR-LASSO, Sergio. NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THREE GLASS FROGS SPECIES (ANURA: CENTROLENIDAE) FROM THE ANDEAN CENTRAL CORDILLERA OF COLOMBIA. Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. Univ. Caldas [online]. 2013, vol.17, n.2, pp.127-140. ISSN 0123-3068.

Between October 2008 and December 2010, we carried out surveys in different creeks at north of the municipality of Manizales in the Colombian Central Cordillera, in order to make observations on the natural history of three glass frogs species (Centrolene quindianum, Nymphargus grandisonae and N. spilotus). Centrolene quindianum presents clutches with 33-35 eggs (N= 2) located on the Upper of leaves at heights between 40-200 cm above water; one male was observed close to three egg-masses (< 1 m of distance of them in the same perch), suggesting the possibility of parental care. The spider Patrera armata (Anyphaenidae) is reported as a predator of the embryos of this species. In N. grandisonae both calling and oviposition occurs in the upper surfaces of large leaves, especially Araceas and Heliconias. These breeding sites are guarded territories by males for periods of up to six months. Their egg-masses have an average of 74 eggs (N = 4), located at a height and a distance from the edge of creeks between 57-218 cm (X = 113.21 ± 45.73 cm, N = 14) and 0-35 cm (X = 15.8 ± 6.7 cm, N = 14), respectively; males stay close to egg masses as they continue calling to attract females. In addition, we report for first timefly larvae (Drosophylidae) as parasitoid agent foregg-masses of N.grandisonae. In N.spilotus, we report the finding of a male with a deformity in his right leg and a female that layed eggs without the presence of a mate male.

Keywords : Centrolenidae; Centrolene quindianum; natural history; Nymphargus grandisonae; Nymphargus spilotus; reproductive behavior.

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