Order Anura Genus Smilisca Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Scientific name Smilisca sila | |
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Similar Frog, Mexican burrowing tree frog, Amphibians, Hylidae, Veragua cross‑banded tree frog | ||
The Panama cross-banded tree frog, Smilisca sila, is a species of frog in the Hylidae family found in the humid Pacific lowlands of southwestern Costa Rica to eastern Panama and in the Caribbean lowlands of Panama and northern Colombia.
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Description
Males grow to 45 mm (1.8 in) and females to 62 mm (2.4 in) in snout–vent length. They are gray, tan or reddish brown in dorsal colouration, with tuberculate skin. White or green flecks as well as darker blotches and markings may be present. Ventral surface is creamy white.
Behaviour
Panama cross-banded tree frogs are nocturnal. Breeding takes place during the dry season when males call from the edges of forest streams. Males call more and using more complex calls on moonlit nights. They also use concealed sites (such as under leaves) less. It is suggested that this is possible because the frogs can detect predatory bats (e.g., fringe-lipped bats) more easily when there is moonlight
Habitat and conservation
Its natural habitats are lowland moist and wet forests close to shallow rocky pools and stream banks. It can also occur in secondary forest, and sometimes in relatively open areas. Tadpoles live in clear pools and slow-moving water near the bottom.
It is threatened by habitat loss caused by agriculture, illegal crops and pollution resulting from spraying them, logging, and human settlement. It occurs in many protected areas.