Taxonomy

Species ID	020140
Name	White-lipped frog
Other Common Names
Category	02 Amphibians
Phylum
Subphylum
Class	Amphibia
Subclass
Suborder
Family	Leptodactylidae
Genus	Leptodactylus
Species	labialis
Subspecies
References	3, 1
Scientific Synonyms	Leptodactylus fragilis, Brocchi, Cystignathus labialis, Cope 1877

Comments

1* Between 1978 and 1992 this species was known as L. fragilis. Dubois and Heyer (1992:584), however, concluded that Cystiganthus labialis Cope 1877 has priority over C. fragilis Brocchi 1877 and restored the name labialis. The literature on L. labialis was summarized by Heyer (1971), who also evaluated the taxonomic status of the species (as L. fragilis) as part of his review of the L. fuscus group (Heyer, 1978).

Distribution

DISTRICT	References
Belize, Belize	1
Cayo, Belize	1
Corozal, Belize	1
Orange Walk, Belize	1
Stann Creek, Belize	1
Toledo, Belize	1

Administrative Unit	Occurrence	Abundance	Temporal	References
Gallon Jug	Photographed	Unknown, insufficient data	June	4
Government land				1
Shipstern Nature Reserve				1
Rio Bravo Conservation Area				1
Altun Ha Archaeological Reserve				1
Private land, see comments				1
Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (Private)				1
Manatee Forest Reserve				1
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve				1
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary				1
Bladen Nature Reserve				1

Hydrologic Unit Distribution	References
Mussel Creek	2
Roaring Creek	2

ELEVATION Association	References
1-200 m	4

QUAD Distribution	References
17 30' to 17 45'; 89 00' to 89 15'	4
17 45' to 18 00'; 88 15' to 88 30'	1
17 30' to 17 45'; 88 10' to 88 30'	1
18 15' to 18 30'; 88 15' to 88 30'	1
17 15' to 17 30'; 88 30' to 88 45'	1
17 00' to 17 15'; 88 45' to 89 00'	1
17 00' to 17 15'; 88 00' to 88 30'	1
16 45' to 17 00'; 88 45' to 89 00'	1
18 15' to 18 30'; 88 00' to 88 15'	1
16 45' to 17 00'; 88 15' to 88 30'	1
16 30' to 16 45'; 88 45' to 89 00'	1
16 15' to 16 30'; 88 45' to 89 00'	1
18 00' to 18 15'; 88 30' to 88 45'	1
17 45' to 18 00'; 89 00' to 89 15'	1

Holdridge Life Zone Distribution	References
Subtropical moist	4

Comments on Distribution

2* Gracy Rock, Roaring Creek
3*  Leptodactylus labialis occurs from southern Texas on the Gulf slope
    and from at least Sinaloa on the Pacific slope, south through Central
    America to Venezuela and Colombia. It is found throughout the Yucat n
    Peninsula.
4*  Miller, C.M. (1997). Natural history voucher photograph collection,
    Gallon Jug.

Graphics

Pictures

Habitat Associations

Food Habits

References/Lifestage	Reference Numbers

Environmental Associations

References/Lifestage	Reference Numbers

Life History

Life History Narrative

This widespread and common species occurs in a variety of habitats, especially areas with permanent water such as marshes and aguadas. Individuals are often encountered on roads at night during or following rains. They breed throughout the rainy season. Males, which call during the day as well as at night, vocalize from the edges of temporary or permanent bodies of water in forests or savannas, usually from hiding places at the bases of grass tufts or sequestered within burrows in the mud. Amplexus is axillary. The amplectant frogs use their hind legs to whip their secretions into a foam nest. The eggs are deposited in the foam nest, and the larvae undergo early development there. Foam nests are usually placed in terrestrial situations subject to flooding, ensuring the release of the larvae from the nest.

Life History References

3

Management Practices

References/Result	Reference Numbers

References

1  Meerman, J., 1994. Summary of Herpetofauna Distributions in Belize.
   Report to National Protected Areas Management Project.

2  Neill, W.T. and R. Allen. 1961. Further studies on the herpetology of
   British Honduras.  Herpetologica 17(1):37-52.

3  Lee, Julian C. 1996. The Amphibians and Reptiles of the Yucatan
   Peninsula.  Comstock Publishing. Ithaca, New York. Pp. 68-71.

4  Miller, C.M. 1997.  Natural history voucher photograph collection.