Amazon Milk Frog
Facts about this animal
A nocturnal, fairly large frog, attaining sizes up to 8 cm. It is dark brown, with light grey or white banding, patches and points (or light grey with dark brown banding). The belly is also very light grey, with a blue touch at the flancs. Their skin has a very granular or bumpy texture. The feet with their pads are also brown with a blueish sheen. Due to their very large vocal sac the males are capable of producing extremely loud calls.
There is no fixed reproduction period. The females lay about 2.000 eggs in water bodies in leaves or similar water bodies in the trees The tadpoples hatch already after one day. After only three further weeks metamorphiosis is completed. Adults will consume almost any type of small arthropod they can overpower and swallow.
Did you know?
This species was previously within the genus Phrynohyas which was however synonymised with Trachycephalus after the extensive revision of the family Hylidae in the year 2005. Their common name milk frog refers to the poisonous, white, milky secretion that this frog secretes when threatened.
|Name (Scientific)||Trachycephalus resinifictrix|
|Name (English)||Amazon Milk Frog|
|Name (French)||Rainette kunawalu|
|Name (Spanish)||Rana lechera amazonica|
|CITES Status||Not listed|
|CMS Status||Not listed|
Photo Copyright by
© Petra Karstedt
|Range||Bolivia; Brazil; Colombia; Ecuador; French Guiana; Peru; Suriname; Venezuela; possibly Guyana|
|Habitat||This frog inhabits the canopy of tropical primary rainforest, from 0–450 m, where it breeds in tree cavities and may seldom, if ever, descend to the ground.|
|Wild population||Although rarely recorded, probably because of its arboreal habits, considering the wide distribution a large population is presumed. Local populations however are no doubt impacted by forest conversion, clear cutting, selective logging, and human settlement. However, overall this species seems not to be significantly threatened.|
|Zoo population||Recently, thanks to successful captive breeding programs, the Amazon milk frog has become relatively common in collections.|
In the Zoo
How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Note 45 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Photo Copyright by
© Michael Gäbler
Why do zoos keep this animal
Neotropical frogs are threatened by habitat distruction, disease and other factors. Zoos and aquariums keeping these species want to build up reserve populations and to raise awareness of the global amphibian crisis. Several zoos have also linked their ex situ activities with involvement in in situ conservation.