The End of an Era

After over 6 years of intensive research and community development work in and around the Yachana Reserve, GVI Amazon is coming to a close. We have finished our final research project (look forward to our Road Effects paper, coming soon!) and are handing over the project to our partner, The Yachana Foundation. They will continue to maintain and monitor the reserve, using it as an hands-on science education center for students -- we're very excited to see what fabulous things this next generation of scientists find! For more detail on GVI Amazon's closure, and our accomplishments over the years, please read on...
GVI Amazon Closure Statement

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Engystomops petersi

One of the most distinctive frogs found in the Yachana Reserve is Engystomops petersi or the Painted Forest Toadlet. It is frequently found beside streams emitting its characteristic ‘laser like’ call – “Pehew pehew!”. Although they are easy to identify through call, finding one is another matter. These frogs tend to sit on muddy sections of stream banks, where their warty backs act as fantastic camouflage.


After a couple of weeks practice, GVI Amazon volunteers become quite adept at finding and catching these frogs. Once caught, these frogs puff up their bellies to appear larger and more intimidating than they really are. This process also shows off the beautiful ‘cow-like’ patterning on the stomach and groin. During the rainy season, if you are lucky, you might even encounter a breeding pair! The eggs are laid in a foam nests adjacent to small isolated pools of water. The eggs are laid close to water so that, when the tadpoles hatch, they can reach water before they dry out.

Distribution: Lowland rainforest of Ecuador, Peru and Columbia

IUCN Status : Least Concern


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