Scarthyla vigilans (Maracaibo Basin treefrog) is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is found in northern Colombia (Caribbean lowlands, Magdalena Valley, and eastern llanos), northern Venezuela (Maracaibo Basin, Falcón, Coastal Range, high Llanos and Orinoco Delta), and Trinidad. Although generic allocation of this species has been controversial, molecular data have now confirmed its close relationship with Scarthyla goinorum and placement in that genus. Indeed, adults are very similar to Scarthyla goinorum ; however, the male advertisement call and tadpoles are clearly distinct.
Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
Jumping (saltation) can be distinguished from running, galloping, and other gaits where the entire body is temporarily airborne by the relatively l...
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starts withScarthyla vigilans are small frogs, with a maximum size of 21 mm (0.8 in) in snout–vent length. The body is elongate and slender. The head is as wide as the body and longer than it is wide. The snout is long and acuminate. The eyes are moderately large and protuberant. The tympanum is distinct although partly obscured by the diffuse supratympanic fold. The fingers and toes are slender and bear small round discs. The fingers lack webbing while the toes are webbed. Night-time coloration is lime green with indistinct stripes; the ventral parts are transparent. During the day, the coloration is more contrasting. Males have a single subgular vocal sac.
The male advertisement call resembles a cricket chirp (and can be mistaken as such) and has very low intensity.
The tadpoles have short, globular body and moderately long tail. The maximum total length is 32 mm (1.3 in).
