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Description
Synapturanus salseri is a relatively small frog with adults reaching 28 mm. This frog has a stout body that leads to a narrow head with a blunt, overhanging snout. There is a transverse fold of skin behind the eyes. The toes are unwebbed. Coloration is gray-brown with dorsal spots, with cream to orange legs.

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Colombia, Venezuela

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

These frogs can be found only in southeastern Colombia and adjacent Ecuador and Venezuela. They inhabit the floor of the rainforest.

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Synapturanus salseri are shy and spend almost all of their time in burrows beneath the forest floor. During the rainy season, males give off a brief whistle as a mating call. They mate only after periods of heavy precipitation. Mating takes place in burrows, since these frogs seldom venture out. Females lay a few large eggs into the burrow. The hatched tadpoles do not feed but live on the stored yolk until they undergo metamorphosis. The diet of adult S. salseri frogs consists of ants and spiders (Zweifel, 2003).

Trends and Threats
Not threatened.

References

Zweifel, R. G. (2003). ''Timbo disc frog, Synapturanus salseri.'' Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, Volume 6, Amphibians. 2nd edition. M. Hutchins, W. E. Duellman, and N. Schlager, eds., Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2008 Synapturanus salseri: Timbo Disc Frog <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/2217> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Dec 26, 2024.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 26 Dec 2024.

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