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Ant Nest Frog
Painted ant nest frog (Lithodytes [Leptodactylus] lineatus) - Cordillera Escalera Conservation Area, Peru
A really fascinating frog on several different levels, the painted ant nest frog is a uncommon treat to see in the forest here in the San Martin department, I have encountered 4 individuals so far. This frog gets its common name from its association with leaf cutter ants (Atta sp.), these frogs are often found in and around leafcutter ant nests and males will call from within the nest. Multiple calling males have been recorded from the same nest, breeding happens underground so there is plenty we don't know about but tadpoles have been found in pools of water underground within leafcutter ant nests! To avoid being attacked by ants the frogs give off a chemical cue which either fools the ants or signals to them to not attack, and thus they are able to venture into ant nests where most intruders would be killed by attacking ants. If they weren't already interesting enough, they're also thought to be mimics of certain poison frog species (Ameerega, Phyllobates), when I saw my first individual of this species I was quite confused as at first glance I had thought it was an Ameerega but a closer look told me it was something else. Its unclear whether its Batesian mimicry, a non toxic species mimicking a toxic one, or Mullerian mimicry, two toxic species who look similar for shared protection. Some info suggests it might be the latter and that this frog likely has some distasteful toxins in its skin. This frog is probably more common than it seems but its secretive subterranean nature make it elusive.
Ant Nest Frog
Painted ant nest frog (Lithodytes [Leptodactylus] lineatus) - Cordillera Escalera Conservation Area, Peru
A really fascinating frog on several different levels, the painted ant nest frog is a uncommon treat to see in the forest here in the San Martin department, I have encountered 4 individuals so far. This frog gets its common name from its association with leaf cutter ants (Atta sp.), these frogs are often found in and around leafcutter ant nests and males will call from within the nest. Multiple calling males have been recorded from the same nest, breeding happens underground so there is plenty we don't know about but tadpoles have been found in pools of water underground within leafcutter ant nests! To avoid being attacked by ants the frogs give off a chemical cue which either fools the ants or signals to them to not attack, and thus they are able to venture into ant nests where most intruders would be killed by attacking ants. If they weren't already interesting enough, they're also thought to be mimics of certain poison frog species (Ameerega, Phyllobates), when I saw my first individual of this species I was quite confused as at first glance I had thought it was an Ameerega but a closer look told me it was something else. Its unclear whether its Batesian mimicry, a non toxic species mimicking a toxic one, or Mullerian mimicry, two toxic species who look similar for shared protection. Some info suggests it might be the latter and that this frog likely has some distasteful toxins in its skin. This frog is probably more common than it seems but its secretive subterranean nature make it elusive.