Description
Eleutherodactylus bresslerae is a small frog, with adult males measuring up to 30 mm and the larger females up to 46 mm. The dorsum is smooth to lightly shagreened, while the belly and the throat are smooth. The body disc is well developed. Vomerine teeth, behind the choanae, are present in a long series. Supraxillary and inguinal glandular areas are absent. The digital discs are large. There is no webbing between the toes (Schwartz 1960; Schwartz and Henderson 1985; Schwartz and Henderson 1991).

The dorsum of this species is yellowish tan anteriorly, grading posteriorly to reddish brown on thigh and pes. The scapular region and the sides show dense brown spotting. Towards the posterior, the spots become relatively discrete and circular brown dots. There is a dark brown interocular bar and a pair of prominent dorsolateral lines. The concealed surfaces of the hind limbs are dark brown and the venter is creamy (Schwartz, 1960; Schwartz and Henderson, 1985; Schwartz and Henderson, 1991)[3471][3934][3935].

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Cuba

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

This species is endemic to Cuba and is known only from the easternmost tip of the island. It is found between 30-221 m above sea level (Schwartz and Henderson 1991; Hedges and Diaz 2004).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Little is known about this frog. The specimens collected for the type-series were taken on rocks in a coastal broadleaf forest at night (Schwartz 1960).

Trends and Threats
Habitat modification is considered the principal threat to this species, particularly habitat degradation and deforestation due to agriculture and subsistence farming. Moderate impacts on habitat also occur from tourist activities (Vales et al. 1998; Hedges and Diaz 2004).

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

General habitat alteration and loss
Habitat modification from deforestation, or logging related activities
Intensified agriculture or grazing

Comments
Eleutherodactylus bresslerae is a member of the Eleutherodactylus ricordii group (subgenus Euhyas). Related species include Eleutherodactylus ricordii and E. acmonis (Heinicke et al. 2007).

Etymology- Named for Miss Sandra L. Bressler, who drew Cuban frogs for the species author (Schwartz 1960).

References

Hedges, S. B. and Díaz, L. M. (2004). Eleutherodactylus bresslerae. In: IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://www.iucnredlist.org/. Downloaded on 10 November 2007.

Heinicke, M. P., Duellman, W. E., Hedges, S. B. (2007). ''Major Caribbean and Central American frog faunas originated by ancient oceanic dispersal.'' Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 104(24), 10092-10097.

Schwartz, A. (1960). ''Nine new Cuban frogs of the genus Eleutherodactylus.'' Science Publishers Reading Public Museum Art Gallery, 11, 1-50.

Schwartz, A., and Henderson, R. W. (1985). A Guide to the Identification of the Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies Exclusive of Hispaniola. Milwaukee Public Museum, Inland Press, Milwaukee.

Schwartz, A., and Henderson, R. W. (1991). Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies. Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. University of Florida Press, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

Vales, M., Álvarez, A., Montes, L., and Ávila, A. (1998). Estudio Nacional sobre la Diversidad Biológica en la República de Cuba. CESYTA, Madrid.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2007 Eleutherodactylus bresslerae: Maisi Frog <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/2813> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Nov 26, 2024.

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

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