Blue-toed rocket frog

Colostethus caeruleodactylus

TAXONOMY

Colostethus caeruleodactylus Lima and Caldwell, 2001, about 25 mi (40 km) south of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

None known.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The snout-vent length is 0.60–0.67 in (15.4–17.4 mm) for females and 0.58–0.63 in (14.9–16.3 mm) for males. These small frogs are brown on the dorsum, with white chins and bellies. Males have sky-blue fingers and blue discs on the toes during the breeding season. Females have blue discs on the fingers and toes.

DISTRIBUTION

This species is known only from the type locality.

HABITAT

The frogs occur in leaf litter in an isolated patch of slightly disturbed lowland igapó (flooded) forest intersected with small hills and valleys. During the rainy season, rising rivers overflow into small streams in the valleys, creating a system of deep, interconnected, meandering pools. The frogs occur on the slopes above the streams, and their tadpoles develop in the seasonal pools that form in the streams.

BEHAVIOR

Males are territorial, defending small areas of forest approximately 1,000 ft² (10 m²) in size. Short, loud encounter calls are produced by the resident male when an intruding male approaches.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

This species feeds on a variety of small insects and other arthropods.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Reproduction takes place during the rainy season, from January through April. Courtship lasts all of one day and part of the following morning, after which an average of 19 eggs are deposited in rolled or folded leaves on the forest floor. Males attend the clutches and transport all the developing tadpoles near the end of the rainy season, when igapó pools are at their maximum depth.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species is known only from the type locality. Should the forest in this area be removed, the species would become extinct. No special protection is provided the forest at present; it is under the control of private landowners.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.