Aplastodiscus leucopygius is a species of frog belonging to the family Hylidae. It is native to Brazil. Its natural habitats are tropical or subtropical moist lowland forests, rivers, intermittent freshwater marshes, plantations, rural gardens, irrigated land, and heavily degraded former forests.
It is a frog of medium size, growing to a length of about 1.6 inches. The snout is rounded, and a single vocal sac is located in the throat. The iris is a golden color, tinged with orange around the edge, and the tympanum is clearly visible. The fingers and toes have large discs on the tips that help with retaining a grip when climbing. The dorsal surface of this frog is smooth and green, with a scattering of white speckles, while the ventral surface is granular and cream-colored with white flecks. The skin above the vent is ornamented by a short and white ridge.
It is an arboreal species and it is native to the mountains near the southeastern coast of Brazil at altitudes reaching 2600 to 5200 feet above sea level. It’s mainly fount in forested areas near streams or temporary pools.
Breeding occurs in the rainy season between December and February. The male calls from the trees close to a body of water to attract a female. Frequently, several males near each other form a chorus. Upon the arrival, the female selects a male in an elaborate courtship ritual. This ends with the inspection by the female of an underground nesting chamber already prepared in a wet and muddy place by the male. If this is approved, mating takes place, and a raft of eggs is laid inside. The developing tadpoles stay in the nest until they are washed out by flooding, after which they continue their development in shallow streams.
Image Caption: Aplastodiscus leucopygius. Credit: Ariovaldo Giaretta/Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 2.5)