Windward ditch frog

Leptodactylus validus
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Leptodactylidae
Genus: Leptodactylus
Species: L. validus
Binomial name
Leptodactylus validus
Garman, 1888
Synonyms

Leptodactylus pallidirostris Lutz, 1930

The Windward ditch frog or smooth-skinned ditch frog (Leptodactylus validus) is a species of frog in the Leptodactylidae family. It is found in the Lesser Antilles (Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago), the Guianas (French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname), and in the northernmost Brazil (Roraima) and in Venezuela. The Lesser Antillean part of the range might be due to human introduction. The continental Leptodactylus pallidirostris was found to be the same species as Leptodactylus validus in 2006.[2] The former Leptodactylus pallidirostris is described as a dweller of gallery forests and forest edges.[3] The Lesser Antillean populations are found in forests and forest edges often found close to forest stream banks, shaded gullies, and caves. They may also be found in meadows, at roadsides in parks and rural yards. The species lays its eggs in foam nests.[1]

Male Leptodactylus validus grow to a snout–vent length of 28–43 mm (1.1–1.7 in) and females to 30–52 mm (1.2–2.0 in).[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Hardy, J., Heyer, R., Hedges, B. & Powell, R. (2010). "Leptodactylus validus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Leptodactylus validus Garman, 1888". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  3. Robert Reynolds, Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues, Abraham Mijares, Ross MacCulloch (2004). "Leptodactylus pallidirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  4. Heyer, W. R. (1994). "Variation within the Leptodactylus podicipinus–wagneri complex of frogs (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae)". Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 546: 1–124. doi:10.5479/si.00810282.546.i. (combined size range of Leptodactylus validus and L. pallidirostris)