IAS on Facebook
IAS on Instagram
|
![](/images/navbartop.jpg)
IAS Aroid Quasi Forum
About Aroid-L
This is a continuously updated archive of the Aroid-L mailing list in a forum format - not an actual Forum. If you want to post, you will still need to register for the Aroid-L mailing list and send your postings by e-mail for moderation in the normal way.
Re: [Aroid-l] Arum lily (reed) frog
|
From: "Julius Boos" ju-bo at msn.com> on 2005.04.04 at 10:43:06(12826)
>From: Jonathan Ertelt <jonathan.ertelt@vanderbilt.edu>
>Reply-To: Discussion of aroids <aroid-l@gizmoworks.com>
>To: Discussion of aroids <aroid-l@gizmoworks.com>
>Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Arum lily (reed) frog
>Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 15:30:31 -0600
Dear All,
This discussion about the tiny frog inhabiting the bloom of the native
African Zantedescia sps. ("Arum lily") brings to mind something that I know
of in Trinidad, W.I.
Many years ago I was trying to collect one of the rarest of the many frog
species we have on Trinidad, Flectonotus (Gastrotheca) fitzgeraldi, the
Trinidad Marsupial frog, called that because it incubates its few large eggs
in a 'marsupium' or pouch/groove along its dorsum. I was told that the
way to see this little (finger-joint sized) frog was near the Bat caves near
Tamana in Central Trinidad`s jungle. One of my Mentors, Dr. Jack Price,
had collected it there when working w/ Dr. Jake Kenny on the frogs of
Trinidad and Tobago. HERE COMES THE AROID CONNECTION!! Jack told me
that it lived in the basal leaf-sheaths of a giant Xanthosoma sp.
(Xanthiosoma cf. undipes), known locally as 'wild tannia' that grew there.
I made a trip and climb to these caves where we discovered this plant
was abundant near the entrances to these smelly bat caves, and after much
chopping and searching we did see this little tree-frog slipping
effortlessly in and out of the sheaths, NOT easy to catch! I wonder if
perhaps this plant , besides providing a moist/wet safe haven in its basal
leaf sheaths for this tiny frog, might also provide a higher temp. than that
of the surrounding air?? I was also thinking that perhaps the higher
temperature produced within the spathe of Zanthedescia would be advantagous
to a tiny frog, plus of course the insects provided as food and attracted to
the scent of the bloom at anthesis???? All food for thought and further
research!
Cheers,
Julius
| +More |
Does anyone on the list know of references, reprints of articles,
>>or research on the relationship of the Arum lily (reed) frog,
>>Hyperolius horstocki, and the arum lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica?
>>This tiny frog (I believe endemic to South African Fynbos) inhabits
>>the inflorescence of the Arum lily and can change its color to
>>match its background inside the Arum lily for camoflauge. Beyond
>>that I am having difficulty locating much information on this cool
>>little creature, and would like to know more if anyone has
>>experience with it.
>>
>>Thanks for your help,
>>
>>Emily
>Emily,
>
>Here's a site with an illustration of one clutching a spadix:
>http://passport.panda.org/campaigns/campaign.cfm?uNC865265&uCampaignId&1
>
>if you enter the scientific name into the google search engine,
>several sites come up with information.
>
>Jonathan
>_______________________________________________
>Aroid-l mailing list
>Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com
>http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l
_______________________________________________
Aroid-l mailing list
Aroid-l@gizmoworks.com
http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l
|
|
Note: this is a very old post, so no reply function is available.
|
|