| Species ID | 020090 |
| Name | Chac's rainfrog |
| Other Common Names | Maya Rainfrog |
| Category | 02 Amphibians |
| Phylum | |
| Subphylum | |
| Class | Amphibia |
| Subclass | |
| Suborder | |
| Family | Leptodactylidae |
| Genus | Eleutherodactylus |
| Species | chac |
| Subspecies | |
| References | 3, 2 |
3* This frog is named for chac, the Maya rian god. 2* Savage (1987) considered this species a small lowland relative of E. rostralis, with which it is sometimes confused. Savage also traced the history of the names E. rhodopis and E. loki, which are sometimes inappropriately applied to E. chac.
| DISTRICT | References |
| Cayo, Belize | 1 |
| Stann Creek, Belize | 1 |
| Toledo, Belize | 1 |
| Stann Creek, Belize | 3 |
| Toledo, Belize | 3 |
| Administrative Unit | Occurrence | Abundance | Temporal | References |
| Government land | 1 | |||
| Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary | 1 | |||
| Bladen Nature Reserve | 1 | |||
| Columbia River Forest Reserve | 1 |
| QUAD Distribution | References |
| 16 30' to 16 45'; 88 45' to 89 00' | 1 |
| 16 45' to 17 00'; 88 15' to 88 30' | 1 |
| 16 30' to 16 45'; 88 30' to 88 45' | 1 |
Comments on Distribution
3* Known only form about 300' to 3,000' (100 to 1,000m) on the windward slopes of the Maya Mountains in the Stann Creek and Toledo Districts but probably alos occurs int he Cayo District. 2* Found through central to southern Belize. Individuals have been found in the wet broadleaf forests of the Maya Mountains of Belize, where they were abroad by day on the forest floor. I found this species abroad by day on the forest floor in southern Belize. Locality records for Belize: Cayo: Doyle's Delight (UMRC 93-H-4), upper Raspaculo River basin (Stafford, 1991:12); Stann Creek: Bokowina (FMNH 49039-40), Cockscomb Basin (UMRC 93-H-3), Double Falls (FMNH 49041-44), Silk Grass (FMNH 49045); Toledo: Blue Creek (Savage, 1987:32), 2 km N Blue Creek Village (UF 87174), Gloria Camp, Columbia River Forest Reserve (USNM 319782-83), SW end Little Quartz Ridge (W.F. Pyburn, in litt.).
| Pictures | |
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
Life History Narrative
2* This frog is a moderately common terrestrial inhabitant of premontane and lowland forests. In the Yucatan Peninsula, individuals have been found in the wet broadleaf forests of the Maya Mountains of Belize, where they were abroad by day on the forest floor. In southern El Pet‚n, Duellman (1963:222) found this species (reported as E. rostralis) to be common on the forest floor by day; he found one specimen on the forest floor at night. I found this species abroad by day on the forest floor in southern Belize. Nothing is known about reproduction in E. chac. Presumably the eggs are deposited in moist terrestrial situations and direct development ensues, as is the case with other members of the genus Eleutherodactylus. 3* This is the smallest of the Belizean rainfrog species, with a maximum snout-vent length of about 1.5 in (40 mm). It differs from similarly sized species of Leptodactylus and Rana in having slightly enlarged toe disks, a dark face mask, and basal toe webbing only. It can be differentiated from Syrrbopbus leprus by its dark face mask, the alternating light and dark bands on the upper surfaces of the limbs, and the presence of a dark triangular seat patch. The species differs from the similarly sized Eleutberodactylus rbodopis in having toe webbing and an inner tarsal fold, both of which are lacking in the rbodopis. There is some pattern variation in certain populations, with some individuals lacking the dark face mask and most dorsal markings; so far these variants have been encountered only at the higher elevations of the southern Maya Mountains. In life, the iris is red. The Maya rainfrog is strictly an inhabitant of the Broadleaf Evergreen Forest and Subtropical Evergreen Forest formations of southern Belize, where it inhabits the leaf litter. it is generally active during the day, hopping in a zigzag course across the forest floor, but individuals are occasionally encountered at night. In areas where conditions are right, these small frogs may occur in surprisingly high numbers, while in other situations they may be only rarely encountered. Males are not known to vocalize. As with most other members of the genus, the Maya rainfrog lays encapsulated eggs out of water that hatch directly into small frogs. It is not known if there is a definite breeding season in Belize, but recently hatched froglets have been found in the southern Maya Mountains in December and March. This frog is named for chac, the Maya rain god.
Life History References
2, 3
| References/Result | Reference Numbers |
1 Meerman, J., 1994. Summary of Herpetofauna Distributions in Belize. Report to National Protected Areas Management Project. 2 Lee, Julian C. 1996. The Amphibians and Reptiles of the Yucatan Peninsula. Comstock Publishing Associates. Ithaca, New York. 3 Meyer, J.R. and C.F. Foster. 1996. A Guide to the Frogs and Toads of Belize. pp. 18-19.