Uncovering the natural history of the bromeliad-dwelling frog Crossodactylodes izecksohni (Anura: Leptodactylidae)

The Neotropical family Leptodactylidae has 203 known species distributed through Neotropical region. The five species of Crossodactylodes are the only species in the Leptodactylidae family that have their entire life cycle associated with rainwater accumulated between bromeliad leaves. Limited resource availability within bromeliads may drive selective pressure resulting in the deposition of few large eggs, parental care behaviors, and territoriality. We provided data on sexual dimorphism, reproduction, parental care, and intra/interspecific interactions of Crossodactylodes izecksohni. We surveyed bromeliads across the type locality of C. izecksohni, the municipality of Santa Teresa, Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. We found C. izecksohni (N=187) associated with over 12 species of bromeliads. The sex ratio was 1:1 for the sampled populations. Males can be readily distinguished from females by the presence of spines on the first finger and hypertrophy of upper and forearms. Both frogs and larvae were found in bromeliads throughout the year. Males defend cluster of few bromeliad. Females are also territorial. Males attract females by calling and waiting inside bromeliad axil. They also call from axils with eggs and tadpoles. The clutch structure is a single egg either aquatic-free or suspended, nonpendant and attached to bromeliad leaf. The mean number of eggs and larvae found in occupied bromeliads was 2.5 (range 1-7) and 3.5 (range 1-10) respectively. Males guard and defend eggs and tadpoles against conspecifics and predators. Adults display a wide variety of antipredator mechanisms. The complex behavior of C. izecksohni makes it a taxon model for the study of behavioral and evolutionary ecology.