Phasmahyla guttata, the spotted leaf frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. It is endemic to Brazil.[2][3] It lives in forests and near the edges of forests but not outside forests. It has been observed between 50 and 1200 meters above sea level.[1]

Spotted leaf frog
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Phasmahyla
Species:
P. guttata
Binomial name
Phasmahyla guttata
(A. Lutz, 1925)

Phasmahyla guttata uses camouflage coloring that ranges from brown to green. This use of coloring is known as polyphenism.[4]

Their females typically lay 42± 19 eggs.[5] The female frog lays eggs on leaves over streams. When the eggs hatch, the tadpoles fall into the stream below.[1]

Scientists classify this frog as least concern of extinction because although its habitat has historically been subject to deforestation, it is not in danger now.[1]

Scientists note that this frog can produce a variety of useful chemicals in its skin.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group; Instituto Boitatá de Etnobiologia e Conservação da Fauna (2023). "Spotted Leaf Frog: Phasmahyla guttata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T55816A172207715. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T55816A172207715.en. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  2. ^ Frost, Darrel R. "Phasmahyla guttata (Lutz, 1924)". Amphibian Species of the World, an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  3. ^ "Phasmahyla guttata". AmphibiaWeb. Amphibiaweb. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Machado, Ibere; Menegucci, Rafael; Mendes, Humberto; Moroti, Matheus (2015). "Polyphenism: Defensive colour behaviour of Phasmahyla guttata (A. Lutz, 1924) (Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae)". Herpetology Notes. 8: 467–470.
  5. ^ Dias, Iuri Ribeiro; Rödder, Dennis; Weinsheimer, Frank; Kwet, Axel; Solé, Mirco (2011-02-17). "Description of the advertisement call of Phasmahyla spectabilis Cruz, Feio & Nascimento, 2008 (Anura: Phyllomedusinae) with comments on its distribution and reproduction". Zootaxa. 2767 (1): 59. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2767.1.6. ISSN 1175-5334.