Morelet's Treefrog
Encyclopedia
Morelet's Tree Frog is a species
of tree frog
of family
Hylidae. It belongs to the leaf frog subfamily (Phyllomedusinae), and is found in Belize
, El Salvador
, Guatemala
, Honduras
, and Mexico
. They have also been called Black-eyed Leaf Frog and Popeye Hyla.
Its natural habitat
s are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest
s, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, freshwater marsh
es, and intermittent freshwater marches. This frog is almost extinct due to habitat loss.
, Brazil
, El Salvador
, Guatemala
, Honduras
and Mexico
. They have been collected on the Atlantic and Pacific slopes of Veracruz
, Chiapas
, the Maya mountains of Belize, northwestern Honduras and El Salvador. They can live in pristine or disturbed habitats and will breed in temporary or permanent bodies of water. They have an extended breeding season during the summer months. They deposit clutches of 50 to 75 eggs on vegetation or rocks over water. The eggs of the Morelet's Tree Frog have a green pigment and when they hatch, the larvae fall into the water to complete their development into frogs.
, which is an infectious disease that kills amphibians. Chytridiomycosis and habitat destruction are projected to cause the population to decline over 80% in the next 10 years. In some regions, the frogs have gone extinct completely. For example, a study done in 2004, has claimed that Morelet's Tree Frog may be extirpated from the region of Southern Mexico. Small snakes also are predators of Morelet's Tree Frog.
Of course there is also the threat of pollution which causes the waters to become more acidic causing direct negative impacts on the tadpoles and frogs. In fact there are about nine different levels of the scale and how close to extinction the species is, this frog was a seven (Critically Endangered), it is two levels ahead of extinction! According to the U.S. Delegation website, “U.S. Supports Amphibian and Reptile Proposals That Receive International Protection.” This is positive news because it means that the governments agree on keeping these amphibians and reptiles from becoming extinct and are taking steps necessary to prevent their extinction. It is because of harmful chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that’s the Earth’s ozone layer has diminished, which results in increased levels of ultraviolet radiation penetrating through the Earth’s surface. “Exposure to UV-B radiation causes genetic mutations that can prevent normal development or kill eggs. Increased UV-B levels particularly affect the many frog species whose eggs lack shells and float on the exposed surfaces of ponds. Tadpoles and frogs are also at risk, because of their thin delicate skins.”
Morelet's Tree Frogs are dying at a rapid rate. Their survival is dependent upon several factors due to their human and disease caused population decline. Some conservation measures are in place, while others are still in need of implementation or research. A number of protected parks have been created to curb habitat destruction in areas of Central America and Mexico. Taxonomic research is currently in place to further understand the population's status. More data is needed, however, on a temporal and spatial scale to determine trends in the population of Morelet's Tree Frogs.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of tree frog
Tree frog
Hylidae is a wide-ranging family of frogs commonly referred to as "tree frogs and their allies". However, the hylids include a diversity of frog species, many of which do not live in trees, but are terrestrial or semi-aquatic.-Characteristics:...
of family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Hylidae. It belongs to the leaf frog subfamily (Phyllomedusinae), and is found in Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
, El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. They have also been called Black-eyed Leaf Frog and Popeye Hyla.
Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, freshwater marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
es, and intermittent freshwater marches. This frog is almost extinct due to habitat loss.
Description
This is a rare frog which has a green body, black eyes and a red or pink underbelly. They are found in moist subtropical lowland mountainous forests and wetland habitats of BelizeBelize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. They have been collected on the Atlantic and Pacific slopes of Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
, the Maya mountains of Belize, northwestern Honduras and El Salvador. They can live in pristine or disturbed habitats and will breed in temporary or permanent bodies of water. They have an extended breeding season during the summer months. They deposit clutches of 50 to 75 eggs on vegetation or rocks over water. The eggs of the Morelet's Tree Frog have a green pigment and when they hatch, the larvae fall into the water to complete their development into frogs.
Conservation
Morelet's Tree Frog was abundant within its range and were kept as pets internationally. However it is currently listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List as of 2001 because of habitat destruction and disease. Industry and agriculture are thought to be the main causes of lowland montane forest destruction. The population of Morelet's Tree Frogs are also being decimated due to a disease called ChytridiomycosisChytridiomycosis
Chytridiomycosis is an infectious disease of amphibians, caused by the chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a non-hyphal zoosporic fungus. Chytridiomycosis has been linked to dramatic population declines or even extinctions of amphibian species in western North America, Central America, South...
, which is an infectious disease that kills amphibians. Chytridiomycosis and habitat destruction are projected to cause the population to decline over 80% in the next 10 years. In some regions, the frogs have gone extinct completely. For example, a study done in 2004, has claimed that Morelet's Tree Frog may be extirpated from the region of Southern Mexico. Small snakes also are predators of Morelet's Tree Frog.
Of course there is also the threat of pollution which causes the waters to become more acidic causing direct negative impacts on the tadpoles and frogs. In fact there are about nine different levels of the scale and how close to extinction the species is, this frog was a seven (Critically Endangered), it is two levels ahead of extinction! According to the U.S. Delegation website, “U.S. Supports Amphibian and Reptile Proposals That Receive International Protection.” This is positive news because it means that the governments agree on keeping these amphibians and reptiles from becoming extinct and are taking steps necessary to prevent their extinction. It is because of harmful chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that’s the Earth’s ozone layer has diminished, which results in increased levels of ultraviolet radiation penetrating through the Earth’s surface. “Exposure to UV-B radiation causes genetic mutations that can prevent normal development or kill eggs. Increased UV-B levels particularly affect the many frog species whose eggs lack shells and float on the exposed surfaces of ponds. Tadpoles and frogs are also at risk, because of their thin delicate skins.”
Morelet's Tree Frogs are dying at a rapid rate. Their survival is dependent upon several factors due to their human and disease caused population decline. Some conservation measures are in place, while others are still in need of implementation or research. A number of protected parks have been created to curb habitat destruction in areas of Central America and Mexico. Taxonomic research is currently in place to further understand the population's status. More data is needed, however, on a temporal and spatial scale to determine trends in the population of Morelet's Tree Frogs.
External links
- http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/wcs/020310.HTM
- Agalychnis moreletii
- 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 21 July 2007.
- Image of a Morelet's treefrog
