Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

	View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
	View Bd and Bsal data (1 records).

Hyalinobatrachium orientale are distributed in the eastern ranges of Cordillera de la Costa, a coastal mountain range in Venezuela. In addition, they can be found on Tobago Island in regions with an altitude range of 190 - 1200 meters (Castroviejo-Fisher et al. 2008). In Tobago, H. orientale can be found near northeastern streams such as Dead Bay, Main Ridge, and Hermitage (Byrne et al. 2020). In general, H. orientale reside in “neotropical wet forests” (Castroviejo-Fisher et al. 2008).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors

This nocturnal species has both arboreal and terrestrial ecomorphs and are commonly found along freshwater streams and vegetation in forested wetlands (IUCN 2020). Hyalinobatrachium orientale resides near streams due to reproductive needs, such as laying eggs on leaves above water (Jowers et al. 2014).

Reproductive adults and egg clutches are most abundant during the wet seasons with frequent rainfall. Adults prefer to reproduce and lay egg clutches in turbid and fast-moving water, as the high water flow can decrease fish predation on egg clutches, making it the best time for breeding season (Nokhbatolfoghahai et al. 2015).

The courtship and oviposition behavior of H. orientale lasts approximately five hours, from when the female responds to the male call and ending after oviposition. Prior to oviposition, the female evaluates the quality of the male and the reproductive site, a Heliconia leaf. After the female choose a male, he then grasps her in amplexus and they position themselves around both sides of the leaf's surface, signaling the start of oviposition. After oviposition the male stays with the egg clutch and the female leaves (Nokhbatolfoghahai et al. 2015).

Average clutch size ranges from 23 - 32 eggs, each with an average diameter of 1.86 mm (Nokhbatolfoghahai et al. 2015). Egg masses of this species can be found primarily on the underside of Heliconia leaves above small streams. Embryos, tadpoles, and eggs can be found on fallen Heliconia leaves near stream banks. If the Heliconia leaves are not present, Philodendron leaves and palms have been reported to be used too (Lehtinen and Georgiadis 2012).

The egg development timeline is heavily influenced by different factors such as egg size and temperature, flooding, and predation by arthropods. Therefore, male parental care is critical to the survival of the eggs. Males sit on their eggs to prevent desiccation, protect eggs from insect predation, and infection, all while emitting alarm calls in response to the predation as needed (Murphy et al. 2012). A study researching egg development found brooding behavior exhibited by the male parent to hydrate the eggs contribute to a longer hatch time (Delia et al. 2014).

Trends and Threats
Hyalinobatrachium orientale populations are decreasing and have become "Vulnerable" in Venezuela forests due to habitat loss caused by urbanization and housing, expansion of agricultural areas, deforestation for harvesting wood/logs, wildfires and the use of toxic fire retardants, and possible diseases, such as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. However, the population is currently stable in Tobago Island (IUCN 2020).

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

General habitat alteration and loss
Habitat modification from deforestation, or logging related activities
Intensified agriculture or grazing
Urbanization
Predators (natural or introduced)
Introduced competitors
Disease

References

Byrne, I., Thomson, R., Thomson, R., Murry-Uren, D., Downie, J.R. (2020). “Observations on metamorphosing tadpoles of Hyalinobatrachium orientale (Anura: Centrolenidae).” Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology, 19(2): 217-223. [link]

Castroviejo-Fisher, S., Señaris, J.C., Ayarzagüena, J., Vilà, C. (2008). “Resurrection of Hyalinobatrachium orocostale and notes on the Hyalinobatrachium orientale species complex (Anura: Centrolenidae).” Herpetologica, 64(1): 472–484. [link]

Delia, J. R. J., Ramirez-Bautista, A., Summers, K. (2014). "Glassfrog embryos hatch early after parental desertion." Proceeding of the Royal Society B 281: 2013–3237 [link]

IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2020). "Hyalinobatrachium orientale." The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T43268296A3022366. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T43268296A3022366.en. Accessed on 08 March 2022.

Jowers, M.J., Lehtinen, R.M., Downie, R.J., Georgiadis, A.P, Murphy, J.C. (2014) “Molecular phylogenetics of the glass frog Hyalinobatrachium orientale (Anura: Centrolenidae): evidence for Pliocene connections between mainland Venezuela and the island of Tobago.” Mitochondrial DNA 26(4): 613-618 [link]

Lehtinen, R. M., Georgiadis, A.P. (2012). “Observations on parental care in the glass frog Hyalinobatrachium orientale (Anura: Centrolenidae) from Tobago, with comments on its natural history.” Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology, 11(1): 75-77 [link]

Murphy, J.C., Charles, S., Traub, J. (2012). “Hyalinobatrachium orientale: Male parental care.” Herpetological Review 43:118-119.

Nokhbatolfoghahai, M., Pollock, C.J., Downie, J.R. (2015). "Oviposition and development in the glass frog Hyalinobatrachium orientale (Anura: Centrolenidae)." Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology, 14(1), 3-17 [link]

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2022 Hyalinobatrachium orientale: Eastern Glass Frog <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/1819> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Nov 29, 2024.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 29 Nov 2024.

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