Honduras White-lipped Frog
Species Data
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Leptodactylidae
Scientific Name: Leptodactylus silvanimbus
IUCN Red List status: Critically Endangered
Description
The Honduras White-lipped Frog is a medium-sized amphibian endemic to the tropical moist montane forests of Honduras. With adults measuring between 5.5 cm- 7 cm in length, its brown and grey skin speckled with darker brown patches helps the frog to blend in seamlessly with the forest floor. Despite its common name, this species does not have as distinctive a white lip as others of its genus.
Behaviour
The Honduras White-lipped Frog is an avid insectivore, feeding on a variety of insects and smaller invertebrates found within its habitat and helping to control insect populations within the ecosystem.
Habitat
Endemic to Honduras, the frog is found in moist montane forests and in cloud forests in particular. Its known range is limited to the Cerro Búfalo region of the Cordillera Nombre de Dios Mountain range, at a narrow elevation range of just 1,540 to 1,640 m. Interestingly, as well as being found in remote undisturbed areas of the cloud forest, the frog has been seen to adapt to areas that have been transformed to pastureland.
Threats and Conservation
Despite its apparent adaptability, the IUCN currently classifies the Honduras White-lipped Frog as Critically Endangered. The most imminent threat to the frog’s numbers is the loss of its habitat to logging, agriculture, and human development. As the frog has a very small home range, any loss of its habitat could have devastating consequences for its survival. Because of this, conservation of Honduras’ remaining cloud forests is vital to the survival of the species.
