Hourglass Treefrog
Dendropsophus ebraccatus
Hourglass Tree Frog. A tiny, colorful tree frog named after the distinctive hourglass marking on its back and bright yellow-orange legs. Highly adaptable breeder.
Ambiente
Terrestre
Umidade
70 - 90 %
Temperatura diurna
26 - 28 °C
Temperatura noturna
22 - 24 °C
Temperatura ambiente
26 - 28 °C
Gabinete mínimo
>= 45 L
Descrição da espécie
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Distributed across warm, humid lowland tropical rainforests and wetlands of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to northern Colombia. They inhabit grassy margins of pools, reed beds, and large forest leaves. This treefrog is widely distributed across the humid lowlands of Central America and northern South America.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Family Hylidae. Commonly known as the Hourglass Tree Frog or Pantless Tree Frog. The name "ebraccatus" (pantless) refers to its unpatterned yellow inner thighs. Highly popular in vivarium hobby. Classified in the family Hylidae, it is famous for its reproductive flexibility, laying eggs on land or in water.
Behavior and Habits: Quiet and inactive during the day, sleeping flat against broad leaves. At night, they become active climbers and gliders. Males emit a loud, distinct "creeeek" mating call. Primarily nocturnal, it spends daylight hours resting quietly on broad leaves to conserve moisture.
Morphology: Tiny species reaching 2.5-3.5 cm. Golden-cream or mustard-yellow dorsal skin with a dark mahogany brown hourglass-shaped patch. Thighs are smooth and yellow. Males have yellow vocal sacs, while females are larger and rounder. Features a bright yellow to tan dorsum with a dark brown hourglass-shaped pattern and golden-colored eyes.
Cuidado, criação e companheiros de tanque
Terrarium Setup: Vertical tropical terrarium (minimum 45x45x60 cm). Provide thin climbing branches and broad-leaved live plants (Pothos, Heliconia). Include a shallow water area at the bottom. A vertically oriented terrarium with live plants and branches is required to accommodate its arboreal habits.
Lighting and Heating: Maintain day temperatures between 26-28°C, dropping to 22-24°C at night. Avoid temperatures above 30°C. Provide a 5% UVB light source. Provide gentle lighting and moderate daytime temperatures (24-28 °C), with a slight drop during the night.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity (80-90%) with strong ventilation. Spray nightly with dechlorinated water; ensure the leaves dry during the day. Maintain high humidity levels of 70-85% by misting the enclosure daily with clean, dechlorinated water.
Feeding and Supplementation: Insectivorous. Feed daily with fruit flies (Drosophila hydei and melanogaster), micro-crickets, and small roaches. Dust prey with calcium and vitamin D3 three times a week. Feed a variety of small live insects such as wingless fruit flies, pinhead crickets, and small roaches.
Compatibility: Peaceful and social. Can be kept in groups. Do not mix with other species. Can be kept in small, single-species groups; do not mix with larger frogs that could pose a predation risk.
Health and Common Diseases: Never handle; their skin is highly sensitive to toxins and salts. Prone to snout rubbing against glass if stressed. Maintain strict terrarium hygiene. Ensure a clean environment and use gloves when handling to protect the frog's sensitive, permeable skin.
Origem e distribuição geográfica
Distributed across warm, humid lowland tropical rainforests and wetlands of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to northern Colombia. They inhabit grassy margins of pools, reed beds, and large forest leaves. This treefrog is widely distributed across the humid lowlands of Central America and northern South America.
Origem
Oceanos tropicais e recifesExtra-Amazônica América do SulAmérica Central e CaribeAmérica do Norte
Perfil anfíbio
- Dieta
- Insectivore
- The Hourglass Treefrog primarily feeds on a varied diet of small insects and other invertebrates found within its arboreal habitat. They are active hunters at night, carefully stalking their prey along leaves and branches before striking. Common prey items include flies, small crickets, moths, and small spiders that venture into the vegetation. Their agile climbing skills allow them to catch flying insects that land nearby.
- Expectativa de vida
- 5-10 years
- Tamanho adulto
- 3.6 cm
- Estilo de vida/Microhabitat
- Arboreal
- They exhibit a highly specialized arboreal lifestyle, spending almost their entire lives off the ground in the foliage of trees and shrubs. Their specialized toe pads allow them to climb vertical surfaces and leaves with ease, rarely descending except sometimes to breed.
- Ciclo de atividades
- Nocturnal
- These amphibians are strictly nocturnal, becoming active under the cover of darkness. During the day, they remain motionless to avoid predators, adhering to leaves or branches. As dusk approaches, they emerge to forage and vocalize, relying on low light conditions for their natural behaviors.
- Socialidade
- Solitary
- Hourglass Treefrogs are highly nocturnal, spending their days hiding among dense foliage to avoid predators and preserve moisture. They are excellent climbers, utilizing the adhesive discs on their toes to navigate smooth leaves and branches effortlessly. They are generally solitary but congregate around water bodies during the breeding season. Their vocalizations consist of sharp, distinct clicks used primarily to establish territory and attract mates.
- Reprodução
- Oviparous
- This species has a fascinating and versatile reproductive strategy, capable of laying eggs either on leaves overhanging water or directly in shallow ponds. When eggs are laid on leaves, the hatching tadpoles drop into the water below to complete their development. This flexibility allows them to adapt to different environmental conditions and avoid aquatic predators during the vulnerable egg stage. During the breeding season, males call vigorously from vegetation to attract females.
- Toxicidade
- Harmless
- The Hourglass Treefrog is completely harmless and does not produce any significant toxins. They rely almost entirely on their disruptive coloration and camouflage to avoid detection by predators. Unlike many vividly colored poison frogs, their skin secretions are not dangerous to humans or most animals. However, it is always recommended to handle them with clean, moist hands to protect their delicate skin.
- Estágio de vida
- Metamorphosis
- The life cycle begins with eggs that quickly hatch into aquatic tadpoles, which feed on algae and detritus. These tadpoles develop over several weeks, gradually growing hind and front legs while absorbing their tails. Once metamorphosis is complete, the tiny froglets emerge from the water to begin their terrestrial and arboreal lives. They grow rapidly during their first year, reaching maturity and joining the breeding population.
- Tolerância de tratamento
- Display only
- As with most amphibians, handling should be avoided unless absolutely necessary for health checks or enclosure maintenance. They possess highly permeable skin that is extremely sensitive to the natural oils, salts, and any chemical residues present on human hands. They are best treated as a 'look, don't touch' display animal.
- Brumação
- This species hails from tropical and subtropical environments with relatively consistent year-round temperatures, so it does not undergo a true brumation period. While they may experience periods of reduced activity during dry seasons, a drastic cooling period is not required or recommended in captivity.
- Muda
- Periodic
- Like all frogs, they regularly shed their skin to accommodate growth and maintain skin health, often consuming the shed afterward. Because their skin is delicate and prone to desiccation, maintaining a consistently high ambient humidity is absolutely critical to prevent shedding complications and ensuring the molt comes off in one piece.
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