Eleutherodactylus marnockii

Cliff Chirping Frog
Cliff Chirping Frog, Eleutherodactylus marnockii
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Lissamphibia
Order:	Anura
Suborder:	Neobatrachia
Superfamily:	Hyloidea
Family:	Leptodactylidae
Subfamily:	Eleutherodactylinae
Genus:	Eleutherodactylus
Subgenus:	Syrrhopus
Species:	E. marnockii
Binomial name
Eleutherodactylus marnockii Cope, 1878
Synonyms
Syrrhophus marnockii

The Cliff Chirping Frog (Eleutherodactylus marnockii) is a small Leptodactylid frog found in the United States, in central and western Texas.

Description

Cliff frogs are 0.75 to 1.5 inches in length, and are an olive green or tan in coloration with brown or black mottling, often with banding on the rear legs. They have a somewhat flattened body which allows them to hide in rock crevices. They have no or little webbing between their toes.

Behavior and habitat

Cliff chirping frogs are nocturnal and live most of their lives on limestone rock faces, often near emerging springs. Like most frogs, they will hop, but they are also capable of crawling, which aids them in hiding in rock crevices. Though primarily found around rocky areas, they are also common in forested regions, any area with a moderate amount of moisture, but isn't actually a pool of water or stream. Their primary diet is small insects.

Cliff Chirping Frog, Eleutherodactylus marnockii

Reproduction

Breeding occurs year round, except at the coldest points of the winter, but generally peaks during the rainy season in the months of April and May. Females can lay up to three clutches of eggs a year, in a moist substrate of leaf litter, or soil.

References

• Hammerson (2004). Eleutherodactylus marnockii. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is of least concern
• Herps of Texas: Syrrhophus marnockii
• Yahooligans: Cliff Chirping Frog