The secrets of the mysterious leopard frog’s sex life – 07/14/2023 – Science

Scientists braved 50°C heat and venomous snakes to find a virtually unknown “leopard-spotted” frog – and learn how it reproduces.

Argentine researchers are fighting to protect the tiny Santa Fe frog, which is endangered due to the destruction of its habitat in one of the driest forests in the world, the Chaco Seco.

They discovered that the animal hides in caves, only coming out to find a mate to breed with. And, for the first time, scientists were able to find tadpoles of the species.

“It hasn’t been an easy journey so far, but we are determined to do what we can to secure the future of this wonderful amphibian,” said Isis Ibañez, who leads the Buenos Aires-based Santa Fe frog project.

The Santa Fe Frog (Leptodactylus laticeps) is largely unknown to science, despite having been discovered over a century ago.

Only found in Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay, this frog is now rare due to deforestation of the tropical dry forests it lives in.

The researchers set up camera traps to locate the brightly colored frogs and study their behavior.

Most amphibians attract mates by croaking loudly in a lake, stream or swamp, but this species lives underground.

The team found that males came out at dusk to announce their presence and then returned to their burrows with interested females.

After digging for hours at night, scientists finally found evidence of eggs and tadpoles for the first time.

Investigating the frog’s reproductive behavior is the first step towards protecting it in the wild.

By drawing attention to the plight of the amphibian, the researchers hope to highlight the biodiversity of the Chaco Seco — and other endangered animals.

“This species is a clear example of why we have to defend the forest in Chaco Seco,” said Camila Deutsch, a member of the team.

“We do not have much time.”

Scientists are also connecting with local community leaders, hunters and farmers to learn more about the animal and how best to protect it.

The Gran Chaco is a large expanse of forests and plains that stretches across parts of Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay.

The Chaco forest has been gradually cleared over the last few decades to make way for farmland and farms.

It has one of the highest deforestation rates on the planet, yet it attracts less attention than its neighbor—the Amazon rainforest.

The area has been called “impenetrable” and even “hell on Earth” for its lack of accessibility and extreme temperatures, which can reach 50°C during the day, as well as very little rain.

However, wildlife thrives in these harsh conditions, including hundreds of different birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

“It’s a dry forest with incredible biodiversity”, says scientist Gabriela Agostini.

Amphibians are at high risk of extinction. A pathogenic fungus has been ravaging populations around the world for about 40 years.

The animals are also under pressure from habitat loss and hunting.

The Santa Fe frog study and preservation project is supported by the Conservation Leadership Program (CLP) — an initiative led by Fauna & Flora, BirdLife International and the Wildlife Conservation Society.