Eleutherodactylus orientalis

Eleutherodactylus orientalis
Individual on the forest floor (above), two on a hand showings the species' minute size (below)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Eleutherodactylidae
Genus: Eleutherodactylus
Species:
E. orientalis
Binomial name
Eleutherodactylus orientalis
(Barbour & Shreve, 1937)
Synonyms

Sminthillus limbatus ssp. orientalis Barbour & Shreve, 1937

Eleutherodactylus orientalis, the Oriental robber frog or Baracoa dwarf frog, is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to the vicinity of El Yunque, Baracoa, in easternmost Cuba. Although locally common, it requires undisturbed moist forest and has a tiny range, making it critically endangered from habitat loss and degradation.[1]

E. orientalis is relatively brightly marked in yellow and very small, females averaging 1.33 cm (0.52 in) in snout–to–vent length and males 1.25 cm (0.49 in).[2] It is part of a closely related Cuban group that contains five additional described species (E. cubanus, E. etheridgei, E. iberia, E. jaumei and E. limbatus) and at least one undescribed species; most of which are of tiny size, relatively brightly colored and possibly aposematic (at least E. iberia and E. orientalis have alkaloid toxins in their skin).[3]

A relative comparison of the world's smallest frogs

  1. ^ a b Blair Hedges, Luis Díaz (2004). "Eleutherodactylus orientalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T56815A11537567. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T56815A11537567.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Eleutherodactylus orientalis". AmphibiaWeb. Berkeley, California. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  3. ^ Rodríguez, A.; R. Alonso; J.A. Rodríguez; M. Vences (2012). "Geographic distribution, colour variation and molecular diversity of miniature frogs of the Eleutherodactylus limbatus group from Cuba". Salamandra. 48 (2): 71–91.