Paternal care characteristics of the Talamancan glass frog in one of Veragua Rainforest`s streams Wagner Chavez-Acua1,2 & Jos

Andrs Salazar-Ziga1,2
1

Veragua Raninforest Research Centre Escuela de Biologa Universidad de Costa Rica

Abstract By Wagner Chaves Acua; wchaves@veraguarainforest.com The wide variety of amphibians that can be found along the primary and secondary forests of Veragua Rainforest Research & Adventure is increasing as scientists raise awareness of its rich and unique ecosystem. Researchers` effort has not only focus on seeking for new species, but on reporting populations of rare species of frogs that can fill up gaps of missing information on natural history and allow the establishment of more accurate conservation projects. This is the case of the Talamancan glass frog, known from only few locations in Costa Rica, most likely due to the fact that it inhabits streams which are not easy to access. This particular rare species is abundant in one of Veragua`s streams, giving researchers the opportunity to elaborate a behaviour study that follows the biology of Hyalinobatrachium talamancae. Glass frogs lack pigmentation on their belly, giving one the chance to see some of the inner organs such as the heart and liver. This little and delicate frogs are found on the vegetation along streams, and are also known to call actively at nights, especially when heavy rains occurred. They way to reproduce is by placing an egg mass on a leaf above the stream, so that when the tadpoles are ready to hatch they will fall directly into the stream and grown into tiny frogs to continue their cycle of life. The Talamancan glass frog is not only interesting for its scarce distribution along the country, but also because its reproductive behaviour also catches the attention of even those who seem reluctant to the amphibians incredible life. This species place their egg masses on the lower side of the leaf, almost hiding it from predators but, at the same time, from rain, which is key in the development of embryos of most amphibians. All of these forces one of the parents to look after their newborns, and the Talamancan glass frog is not an exception to this interesting case. Paternal care is present in this species of glass frog and a study conducted in Veragua attempts to describe how the male takes

care of its egg masses, and seeks to understand this paternal care under different circumstances. This is the first behaviour project conducted with this species, meaning that the implications it will have towards the understanding of its natural history and paternal care evolution are not only helpful for science but to those who are deeply committed to the conservation of delicate and rare species such as the Talamancan glass frog. This project is also followed by complex bioacustical studies, photographs and videos that will seek to explain didactically the behaviour of this frog when it comes to take care of its egg masses.

Hyalinobatrachium talamancae male taking care of two egg masses at the same time. Photograph by: Jose Andrs Salazar Ziga