Abstract
Two populations of Plectrohyla guatemalensis from two different sites in Sacatepéquez, Guatemala, were monitored for three consecutive rainy seasons, and noteworthy reproductive behavior was observed. The objective of the surveys was to assess the impact of nearby high-tension power lines, but additional information could be obtained. Our observations that male vocalizations to attract females occurred in the crevices of rocks in streams, inside which females lay eggs, suggest that the species’ reproduction is closely linked to the presence of such crevices. Any clutches were then guarded by the male until hatching. We inferred the existence of male-male competition for gaining control of these reproduction sites building upon previous observations, remarks about the genus and other species with similar patterns, and evidence of such aggression, although we did not directly observe any. Also, with the help of local wardens, we recorded vocalizations in mid-January, extending the previously reported reproductive period for this species. We therefore consider the conservation and restoration of rocky streams with adequate forest coverage to be an important conservation action for this species.
Highlights
The Guatemalan Spike-thumb frog (Plectrohyla guatemalensis (Brocchi, 1877)) is a tree-frog belonging to the Hylidae family
We found Craugastor stuarti, Bolitoglossa kaqchikelorum and P. guatemalensis to be the only amphibian species present in Finca Carmona, while only B. kaqchikelorum and P. guatemalensis were found in San Bartolomé Milpas Altas
The observations made during our surveys give new insight into the reproductive behavior and habitat use of this species, leading us to propose that they utilize spaces such as crevices in rocks in the streams they inhabit for the purposes of attracting females, laying and fertilizing their eggs, and continued calling to attract further females
Summary
The Guatemalan Spike-thumb frog (Plectrohyla guatemalensis (Brocchi, 1877)) is a tree-frog belonging to the Hylidae family. It occurs in El Salvador, Guatemala, Eastern Honduras and Chiapas in the Mexican Sierra Madre (Campbell and Vanini 1989; Santos-Barrera and Canseco-Márquez 2010), and inhabits montane and cloud forests. It is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List, mainly as a result of habitat loss and degradation (Duellman and Campbell 1992; Santos-Barrera and Canseco-Márquez 2010). The dorsum, head and extremities have tubercules. It has a bifid prepollex, but no rostral keel (Duellman and Campbell 1992)
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