| Species ID | 020150 |
| Name | Black-backed frog |
| Other Common Names | |
| Category | 02 Amphibians |
| Phylum | |
| Subphylum | |
| Class | Amphibia |
| Subclass | |
| Suborder | |
| Family | Leptodactylidae |
| Genus | Leptodactylus |
| Species | melanonotus |
| Subspecies | |
| References | 3 |
| Scientific Synonyms | Cystignathus melanonotus, Hallowell, 1861 |
3* The biosystematics of this species was treated by Heyer (1970) as part of his revision of the L. melanonotus group.
| DISTRICT | References |
| Stann Creek, Belize | 7 |
| Toledo, Belize | 6 |
| Belize, Belize | 2 |
| Cayo, Belize | 1 |
| Corozal, Belize | 1 |
| Orange Walk, Belize | 1 |
| Toledo, Belize | 1 |
| Administrative Unit | Occurrence | Abundance | Temporal | References |
| Private land, see comments | Sighting | Common | March | 7 |
| Government land | Sighting | Uncommon | December | 6 |
| Government land | Sighting | Unknown, insufficient data | December | 4 |
| Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve | 2 | |||
| Machaca Creek Forest Reserve | 2 | |||
| The Dump (Proposed) | 2 | |||
| Mussel Creek Drainage (Proposed) | ||||
| Government land | 1 | |||
| Shipstern Nature Reserve | 1 | |||
| Rio Bravo Conservation Area | 1 | |||
| Altun Ha Archaeological Reserve | 1 | |||
| Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (Private) | 1 | |||
| Burdon Canal Nature Reserve | 1 | |||
| Bladen Nature Reserve | 1 |
| ELEVATION Association | References |
| 1-200 m | 7 |
| 1-200 m | 6 |
| 1-200 m | 4 |
| QUAD Distribution | References |
| 16 45' to 17 00'; 88 15' to 88 30' | 7 |
| 16 30' to 16 45'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 6 |
| 16 30' to 16 45'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 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 15' to 17 30'; 88 00' to 88 10' | 2 |
| 16 45' to 17 00'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 1 |
| 18 15' to 18 30'; 88 00' to 88 15' | 1 |
| 16 30' to 16 45'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 1 |
| 18 00' to 18 15'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 2 |
| 16 00' to 16 15'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 1 |
| 17 45' to 18 00'; 89 00' to 89 15' | 1 |
| Holdridge Life Zone Distribution | References |
| Tropical moist-transition to Subtropical | 7 |
| Subtropical wet | 6 |
| Subtropical wet | 4 |
Comments on Distribution
7* False Sittee Point 6*Las Sierritas 5* Found throughout Belize at elevations from sea level to at least 1,000 ft (335 m) in most of the vegetation formations. 4* Las Sierritas, Toledo District. 3* Leptodactylus melanonotus occurs at low and moderate elevations on both the Pacific and Gulf slopes of Mexico from Sonora and Tamaulipas, respectively, throughout Central America and into South America west of the Andes to Ecuador. In the Yucat n Peninsula the species is pan- peninsular. Locality records for Belize: Belize City (CM 111930; FMNH 4389-91, 4393-97, 4399-405; UMRC 78-H-38), near Belize City (UF 84501), 7.8 km W Belize City (CM 90985-86), 10.3 mi W Belize City (NMSU 3096), 11.7 mi W Belize City (KU 156335-38), 13 mi NW Belize City (UMMZ 124741), Crooked Tree Village (CM 112090-93), Hummingbird Hershey Farm (CM 105826-28), bet. Ladyville and Sandhill (CM 90946-47), Manatee (FMNH 4262), 8.5 mi W, 7.5 mi N Maskalls (W. T. Neill and Allen, 1959c:24), Rockstone Pond (UU 9329-32); no specific locality (LSUMZ 10275); Cayo: 15 mi E Belmopan (CM 112093), Cocquercot (UMMZ 75368), 3.1 mi W Mountain Pine Ridge Rd. on Belize-Cayo Rd. (UMMZ 124740), Privassion Creek (W. T. Neill and Allen, 1961a; Corozal: Ambergris Cay, 17 km N, 6.5 km E San Pedro (CM 91102), 5 km NNE San Pedro (CM 91124), 3 mi N Corozal Town (JLK 449-53); Orange Walk: 0.5 mi N Gallon Jug (MCZ 37873-74), Kate's Lagoon (FMNH 49058-59, 49061), Otro Benque (USNM 194890); Stann Creek: Dangriga (RWV photo), Mango Creek (MCZ 37884), 4 mi S Waha Leaf Creek (MCZ 37877-78), 2 mi S Waha Leaf Creek (MCZ 37880-83); Toledo: Bladen Branch of Monkey River (CM 105910-11), 3 mi S Bladen Branch (LSUMZ 9611), 2.7 mi NE Golden Stream (KU 156300), 3.5 mi E, 2.5 mi S San Antonio (W. T. Neill and Allen, 1961a; no specific locality (USNM 57763, 59939).
| Pictures | |
| Forest Type Associations | Seral Stage | Canopy Closure | References |
| Lowland broadleaf rain forest over poor or sandy soils. | all stages | Canopy unknown | 6 |
| Transitional Broadleaf Forest Poor in Lime-loving Species | all stages | Canopy unknown | 6 |
| Land Use/Land Cover Associations | References |
| Mixed Forest Land | 6 |
Comments on Habitat Associations
6*Las Sierritas
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
Life History Narrative
3* Leptodactylus melanonotus is a common frog. It occurs in virtually all peninsular habitats that do not have brackish water. Males call from the ground at the edges of temporary or permanent ponds, flooded pastures, bajos, or aguadas, often in close association with human habitations. Calling individuals are difficult to locate because they sequester themselves at the bases of tufts of grass or within burrows in the mud. These frogs are terrestrial and largely nocturnal, although males frequently call during the day as well as at night. During or shortly after rains they may appear on roads in large numbers. Breeding occurs during the rainy season. The males possess keratinized spines on their thumbs that may aid them in clasping females or may function in male-male aggressive interactions. Amplexus is axillary. The eggs are deposited in foam nests constructed on or at the edge of water. The eggs hatch into aquatic larvae, which pass a variable amount of time in the nest before entering the water to complete their development. 5* Black-backed frogs can be found throughout Belize wherever there is permanent water that is not fast-moving. They inhabit the edges of marshes, ponds, forest pools, and slow-moving streams. They are most frequently encountered at the base of clumps of grass at the edge of the water, although during dry periods they can be found beneath logs, rocks, and other forest debris. The call of males is a rapid series of sounds described as "took, took, took." Although the distribution of this species is well known in the lowlands, little information is available on its occurrence in the Maya Mountains, especially in the heavily forested regions.
Life History References
3, 5
| References/Result | Reference Numbers |
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 Associates. Ithaca, New York. 4 Meerman, J.C. 1997. Faunal Study of Las Sierritas, Toledo District, Belize. 5 Meyer, J.R. and C.F. Foster. 1996. A Guide to the Frogs and Toads of Belize. pp. 32-33. 6 Meerman, J.C. 1997. Faunal Study of Las Sierritas, Toledo District, Belize. 7 Meerman, J.C. and T. Boomsma. 1995.Biological and Physical Survey 1995. False Sittee Point, Stann Creek District, Belize. Tropical Forest Studies Publication #2. 37 pp.