Description
Eleutherodactylus pinchoni is a species of very small frogs (adult males average 16 mm, adult females average 20 mm) that occur syntopically with three other species, E. martinicensis, E. johnstonei, and E. barlagnei. According to Kaiser et al. (2003), E.barlagnei is the sister species of E. pinchoni.

E. pinchoni can be distinguished from these other species by its medium-sized head and hindlimbs. Dorsal coloration occurs in varying shades of brown, creating multiple linear patterns across the back. The venter and underside of the species vary in color from light orange to bright red-orange.

The call of this species is very distinct; unlike any other Guadeloupean frogs, the vocalization of E. pinchoni consists of a single note. This one note is repeated for an average duration of 145 ms. Using sonogram data, it has been determined that the frequency and amplitude of this call undergoes no variation throughout its entire sequence (Kaiser et al. 2003).

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Guadeloupe

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Guadeloupe.

Eleutherodactylus pinchoni is found throughout the Basse-Terre region of Guadeloupe, an island in the French West Indies. This distribution (elevation ranges from 180 to 1467 m) presents a possible threat to the species' ultimate survival (see Trends and Threats below).

The type locality of E. pinchoni was discovered at an elevation 600 feet (183 m), three kilometers west of Grande Café in Guadeloupe (Kaiser et al. 2003).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Like the other frogs in this genus, this frog is a direct developing species. Eggs develop directly into sub-adult post metamorphic frogs.

Trends and Threats
In some areas of the Basse-Terre, the geographic range of E. pinchoni approaches the habitat of E. johnstonei. During the 1960s, it was observed that in regions of high E. pinchoni populations, their numbers were dramatically reduced when groups of E. johnstonei entered the habitat (Breuil 2002). Although communities of all four syntopic species have been found to exist, Breuil's observations allude to the possibility that E. johnstonei present a threat to E. pinchoni populations, as well as to its sister species, E. barlagnei (Kaiser et al. 2003).

Comments
Populations of E. pinchoni living in lowland forests and near the peak of La Soufreire volcano have exhibited distinctly different calls. Whether this is due to an unusual ecotype or a completely new species remains unknown.As of May 2002, the species was listed as a conservation and legislative concern on multiple websites.

Etymology

Eleutherodactylus pinchoni was named for Pere Robert Pinchon in recognition of the help he provided Albert Schwartz in his fieldwork in the French Antilles. Pinchon worked in the Seminaire College Forte de France on Martinique, and was widely acclaimed for his assistance in many different areas of fieldwork (Kaiser et al. 2003).

References

Breuil, M. (2002). ''Histoire naturelle des amphibiens et reptiles terrestres de l'Archipel Guadeloupeen. Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthelemy.'' Patrimoines Naturels, 54, 1-339.

Kaiser, H., Murdoch, J. T., Boistel, R., and Breuil, M. (2003). ''Eleutherodactylus pinchoni.'' Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, 765.1-765.3.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2003 Eleutherodactylus pinchoni: Guadeloupe Forest Frog <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/3134> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Nov 24, 2024.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 24 Nov 2024.

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