finally....some frogs!!!

For a trip that is all about finding frogs, our posts have been lacking in our results.  In fact, we've found about 175 frogs so far! Some, like the Hyalinobatrachium bergeri above, are incredibly abundant.  We found this male glass frog guarding two egg clutches last night while the creek while other males called around him, vying for a mate. 

We found these Gastrotheca excubitor while we were searching the puna.  Like it's lower elevation relative G. nebulanastes, this marsupial frog has no tadpoles.  Instead the eggs develop directly into small frogs within a pouch on the mother's back.  In the high elevations of the puna we found these frogs hiding under rocks during the day to conserve moisture. 

This female Bryophryne cophites is another species well suited to the high elevations.  The eggs of this frog undergo direct development after being laid in the moss. 

These Psychrophrynella usurpator are some of the most common frogs around Wayqecha.  During the day they can be heard singing from the grass and ferns surrounding the comedor.  Like the previous two species, this frog lacks a tadpole stage and undergoes direct development.  These direct developing frogs are perfectly adapted to this high elevation environment where standing water can be scarce. 


Cheers!
~Alex