Eleutherodactylus planirostris (Cope, 1862)
Family: Eleutherodactylidae Greenhouse Frog Status: Established Description: The greenhouse frog is a small to tiny frog. Adults can be up to 32mm SVL with females reaching a larger size than males. E. planirostris is generally brown to cinnamon in color with indistinct darker mottling. The area on top of the head forward of the eyes is often lighter in color than the rest of the dorsum. The skin has a granular texture, and there is often a fine slightly raised mid-dorsal ridge. The tips of the toes are slightly expanded into knobs. Albino and “piebald” individuals have been seen on Guam. Its tiny size is enough to distinguish it from all other frogs in the Mariana Islands. It is also the only frog known from the region without webbing between the hind toes. The Coqui frog, which may become introduced to the region, is slightly larger, has expanded toe pads, and often has a thin light dorsal stripe. Biology: There is no aquatic tadpole stage for this frog. Eggs are deposited in moist soil, and the tadpole undergoes metamorphosis while still in the egg. Standing water is not required for breeding and this frog can thrive in most moist habitats. Small individuals and eggs are easily transported in the soil of plants from nurseries and this is the probable rout that it took to reach Guam Distribution: Native to Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and the Northern Bahamas, E. planirostris has become established in the southern United States, Hawaii, and Central America. The Green House frog was first detected on Guam in 2003 (Christy et al. 2007). Since that time it has spread across the island and can be very abundant in areas. It is not yet known from the other islands in the Marianas. Christy, M.T., C.S. Clark, D.E. Gee, D. Vice, D.S.Vice, M.P. Warner, C.L. Tyrell, G.H. Rodda, and J.A. Savidge. 2007. Recent Records of Alien Anurans on the Pacific Island of Guam. Pacific Science 61 (4) 469-483. |