Dendropsophus molitor (Schmidt, 1857)

Pérez-Rojas, Diego A., Escamilla-Quitián, Diego, Estupiñan-Tibaduiza, María Fernanda & Carvajal‑Cogollo, Juan E., 2020, Annotated checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of the Santander highland, Colombia, Check List 16 (3), pp. 611-620 : 614

Dendropsophus molitor (Schmidt, 1857)

Materials examined. COLOMBIA • 5 adults ♀, 3 adults ♂; Santander, municipality of Sucre, La Pradera, La Playa ; 05°52ʹ19″N, 073°54′41″W, 2574 m a.s.l.; 25 Jun. 2017; Juan Carvajal leg.; UPTC-Am 1000 to UPTC-Am 1007 • 1 adult ♂; Santander, municipality of Sucre, La Pradera, Casa Loma ; 05°52′00″N, 073°54ʹ36″W, 2574 m a.s.l.; 23 Jun. 2017; María Estupiñan leg.; UPTC-Am 1008 • 5 adults ♂; Santander, municipality of Sucre, La Pradera, Colegio ; 05°52ʹ05″N, 073°54ʹ15″W, 2574 m a.s.l.; 25 Jun. 2017; Diego Pérez leg.; UPTC-Am 1009 to UPTC-Am 10091011, UPTC-Am 0971, UPTC-Am 10090973 .

Identification. Our specimens were easily identified as D. molitor by the following: distance from nostrils to

end of the snout half the distance from end of snout to eye; eyes small, non-prominent, diameter equal to distance from eye to nostril; tympanum prominent, half the diameter of eye; and relative finger length I<II<IV<III, with fourth finger longer than second ( Guarnizo et al. 2014).

Remarks. We found Dendrosophus molitor to have the largest populations of any amphibians in the study area. This species was locally restricted to pastures and areas near crops. The preferred microhabitat was grassy areas, near water bodies ( Fig. 2C ). Specimens varied widely in color, from green to yellow and with mottled tones ( Fig. 4 ). The population in the study area is ideal for studies on thermal tolerances, intrapopulation polymorphisms, and ecology, ethology, and reproduction.

Figures

Figure 2. The four habitats in the study area. A. Large forest fragment. B. Small forest fragment. C. Grassland. D. Blackberry crop.

Figure 4. Color variation of Dendropsophus molitor. Scale bar = 9 mm.