Search

In Puerto Rico, the Green Iguana, Iguana iguana, is considered an introduced and invasive species responsible for annual losses estimated in millions of dollars to local governmental and private sectors. The purpose of this study was to use GAP analyses to generate habitat distribution models for Green Iguanas in Puerto Rico. The two models had 79.7% and 88.4% predictability, respectively. The second model, which included road corridors as a habitat widely known to be used by iguanas for dispersal, basking, and mating displays, might have overestimated the Green Iguana's distribution. The use of one model over the other should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on habitat type. These habitat modeling and mapping efforts should be repeated periodically as new distributional records are obtained and the land-cover changes to provide land managers an updated distribution of this species in the islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports the first documented clutch and egg size measurements for Eleutherodactylus rogersi, the Bahamas' only endemic frog, including a clutch of 27 eggs with an average diameter of 3.46 mm, discovered during a study on Cat Island in May 2023.

There are 17 described species of Eleutherodactylus in Puerto Rico, some more common than others. The use of harmonics as a means of vocalization has been little studied in the Caribbean. As part of a long-term study of the evolution of sonic communication in Puerto Rican Eleutherodactylus frogs, we document the use harmonics in three common but distinct Puerto Rican endemic species: E. coqui, E. antillensis, and E. brittoni. This study focuses only on the description of these vocalizations using computer software not on the behavioral implications of these vocalizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) was introduced to Puerto Rico over 50 years ago with the Tortuguero Lagoon Natural Reserve (TLNR) as its epicenter, where it is now established as an apex predator. Although concerns have been raised regarding the potential impact of this naturalized predator on Puerto Rico's native fauna, little was known of the caiman's diet on the island. Therefore this study was conducted to determine the diet of the spectacled caiman and its potential impact on island animals. For this study, measurements were obtained from 138 caimans across all life stages (12–94 cm snout–vent length; SVL) from October 2014 to May 2015 within the TLNR. Stomach contents were retrieved and analyzed based on prey category occurrence frequency. In addition, caiman muscle samples were obtained to determine their nitrogen and carbon isotopic signature. Insects were the most abundant prey items encountered with 90.7% and 68.8% in hatchling (SVL < 20 cm) and juvenile (SVL = 20–59.9 cm) stomach respectively. In adult (SVL > 60 cm) caimans, fish remains were the most significant prey items with 38.3% frequency of occurrence. Fish, insects, and gastropods were the only categories of ten designated prey categories to show significant variation among the three caiman age classes. This study provides novel information on dietary habits of spectacled caimans in Puerto Rico relevant to the design of management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which investigated the seasonality and persistence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) infection in direct-developing frogs in Puerto Rico. The study found a significantly higher infection level in adult frogs during the dry season, suggesting a cyclic pattern of dry/cool-wet/warm climate-driven synergistic interaction. The conflicting nature of data on the prevalence of Bd in the populations studied versus intensity of infection in individual frogs was addressed. It was also concluded that Bd is enzootic, and vulnerability of eleutherodactylid frogs to this pathogen is related to seasonal climatic variables in Puerto Rico.

With a total area of 8900 km2, Puerto Rico is the smallest of the Greater Antilles. It is divided in three physiographic regions or areas of relief: the mountainous interior, the karst region, and the coastal plains and valleys. The island comprises six ecological life zones: subtropical dry forest, subtropical moist forest, subtropical wet forest, subtropical rain forest, lower montane wet forest and lower montane rain forest. The herpetofauna of Puerto Rico consists of 25 species of amphibians (19 native, six introduced) and 56 species of reptiles (52 native, four introduced). The goal of this paper is to describe some of the present studies directed towards the conservation of Puerto Rican herpetofauna. Eleutherodactylus karlschmidti, E. jasperi and E. eneidae have not been seen or heard since 1976, 1981 and 1990, respectively, and are probably extinct. Since 2000, the potential causes of amphibian declines in Puerto Rico have been studied, and a synergistic interaction between climate change (increased dry periods) and disease (chytridiomycosis) have been proposed as an explanation for the patterns observed. Recovery efforts for Peltophryne lemur include a captive-breeding program, reintroductions island-wide educational outreach, protection and restoration of existing habitat, and the creation of new breeding ponds. Among reptiles, the first conservation efforts to protect Epicrates inornatus were limited to trying to halt collection and hunting. However, current strategies to preserve the boa include gathering basic biological information, habitat conservation, and educational outreach. Recent efforts for the conservation of Trachemys s. stejnegeri combine three research approaches to clarify the status of local populations: a mark-recapture-release study, field monitoring of reproductive activity (i. e., nocturnal patrolling to identify nesting activity), and field assessment of the potential impact of introduced species, particularly identification of predatory species and exotic turtles. Recovery initiatives for Cyclura stejnegeri include management of invasive mammals, a headstart program for hatchling iguanas, and the assessment of the etiology of a condition causing blindness in adult iguanas. A reforestation project aimed at recovering a local herpetofaunal assemblage after disturbances in a limestone valley in northern Puerto Rico is discussed. As population sizes of common colonizers such as Eleutherodactylus and Anolis increased, larger forest-interior and predatory species like Epicrates inornatus, Alsophis portoricensis and Anolis cuvieri followed. Finally, the Mona Island marine turtle monitoring program is discussed and compared to other similar programs in Puerto Rico. As these and other similar conservation efforts provide scientifically based management recommendations, we hope to succeed in conserving the diverse herpetofauna that characterizes Puerto Rico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a report regarding the discovery and geographical distribution of Puerto Rican Red-eyed Frog, Eleutherodactylus Antillensis, along with mentions about parasitic behavior of the Eleutherodactylus Antillensis.

The article discusses the diet of Eleutherodactylus coqui, a tree frog with a wide distribution throughout the island of Puerto Rico.

The article presents a study focusing on reproductive biology of the Mona Coqui frog (Eleutherodactylus monensis) in captivity. The findings include the direct-developing frogs utilize axillary amplexus, 83 percent of nesting activity in the captive population occurred in late summer with three oviposition events in July and two in August, and both the male and the female frogs aid in digging an oviposition site overnight.

The article provides information on Osteopilus septentrionalis (Cuban treefrog; Rana platanera), which was captured while perching on vegetation bordering a ampus wooded area in San Juan, Puerto Rico.