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Alien Earthlings
in
Drake
Bay,
Costa
Rica
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Tracie "The Bug Lady" invites you on an
out of this world walk on...
The
Dark Side |
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Alien
Earthlings Close Encounters

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The Emerald Glass
Frog |
Espadarana
prosoblepon |
Emerald Glass Frogs are among the most common Glass Frog
species in
Costa Rica. These lovely little frogs are found throughout
most of the country, excluding the Guanacaste region and
mountain peaks
higher than 2000 meters above sea level.
Like all other Glass Frogs, Emerald Glass Frogs are quite
small and have a maximum total length of 31 millimeters.
When looking at an
Emerald Glass Frog from beneath, one can easily observe
the frog's digestive tract.
The
intestines are also transparent, so anything present in the
intestines is also visible through the skin. The upper part of the
Emerald Glass Frog's underbody is covered with a
white parietal peritoneum, but the bluish-green bones are
clearly visible as well as the red ventral vein. |
Emerald Glass Frogs
are quite unique among other Glass Frogs found in Drake Bay.
Males have humeral spines which protrude from the frog's upper
arms.
The
lack of humeral spines on the individual photographed on this
page indicates that it is a female frog.
The male frog's humeral
spines are probably used while mating with females and in
combat with other male frogs. Male Emerald Glass Frogs are
very territorial and have
been observed engaging in wrestling matches which may
last for over an hour!
During these
battles, the tiny warriors hang upside down by their toes from
the bottom of leaves. The frogs lock up in sumo style grips
and wrestle until the loser drops from the fight site. The
loser then shows his submission by flattening his body against
the leaf litter and then must humbly flee the arena.
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When
attempting to attract a mate, male Emerald Glass Frogs
typically call from the top of leaves in the vegetation
surrounding fast moving streams.
Males may be found calling as high as five meters above the
stream.
If a
female is drawn to a specific male, she will join him on his
roost and they will mate there. Female Emerald Glass Frogs
usually lay between 25 and 40 eggs in a clear jelly. The eggs
overhang the stream and hatch within 13 to 17 days.
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Once the tadpoles
hatch from the egg mass, they drop into the stream and finish
their development there. Metamorphosis may take several
months.
Emerald Glass Frogs
may be found from Eastern Honduras and North-central Nicaragua
to Ecuador and Colombia. |
References:
Kubicki, B. 2007
Costa Rica Glass Frogs
Editorial INBio
Savage, J. 2002 The Amphibians and Reptiles of
Costa Rica University of Chicago Press
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The Frog
Files





     






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Home
Tour Basics
Meet the Bug Lady
Tales from the
Edge
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Facts
about Drake Bay, Costa Rica
Travel to Drake Bay
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and Resorts in Drake Bay
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Travelers
Tours in Drake Bay
Recommended
Reading
Links
Contact us at
drakebaycostarica@gmail.com
This is the official site of The
Night Tour with Tracie "The Bug Lady"
drakebaycostarica@gmail.com
Costa Rica Tel: (506) 8701-7356
/ (506) 8701-7462
© 2018 Gianfranco Gómez and
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