The Windward ditch frog or smooth-skinned ditch frog (Leptodactylus validus) is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is found in the Lesser Antilles (Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago), the Guianas (French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname), and in the northernmost Brazil (Roraima) and in Venezuela. The Lesser Antillean part of the range might be due to human introduction. In 2018, the species was recorded from Colombia for the first time.[2]

Windward ditch frog
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Leptodactylidae
Genus: Leptodactylus
Species:
L. validus
Binomial name
Leptodactylus validus
Garman, 1888
Synonyms

Leptodactylus pallidirostris Lutz, 1930

The continental Leptodactylus pallidirostris was found to be the same species as Leptodactylus validus in 2006.[3] The former Leptodactylus pallidirostris is described as a dweller of gallery forests and forest edges.[4] The Lesser Antillean populations are found in forests and forest edges often found close to forest stream banks, shaded gullies, and caves. They may also be found in meadows, at roadsides in parks and rural yards. The species lays its eggs in foam nests.[1]

Male Leptodactylus validus grow to a snout–vent length of 28–43 mm (1.1–1.7 in) and females to 30–52 mm (1.2–2.0 in).[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Jerry Hardy, Ronald Heyer, Blair Hedges, Robert Powell (2010). "Leptodactylus validus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T57172A11595666. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T57172A11595666.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Galvis, Andrés R. Acosta; De Sá, Rafael O. (2018). "Leptodactylus validus Garman, 1888 in Colombia: its distribution and identification". ZooKeys (737): 113–123. doi:10.3897/zookeys.737.20442. PMC 5904439. PMID 29674875. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  3. ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Leptodactylus validus Garman, 1888". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  4. ^ Reynolds, Robert; Rodrigues, Miguel Trefaut; Mijares, Abraham; MacCulloch, Ross (2004). "Leptodactylus pallidirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T57152A11592931. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T57152A11592931.en.
  5. ^ Heyer, W. R. (1994). "Variation within the Leptodactylus podicipinus–wagneri complex of frogs (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae)" (PDF). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 546 (546): 1–124. doi:10.5479/si.00810282.546.i. (combined size range of Leptodactylus validus and L. pallidirostris)