Hyalinobatrachium iaspidiense: ‘Glass Frog’

Brazil Flora & Fauna News

RIO DE JANEIRO – Hyalinobatrachium iaspidiense, popularly known as the “glass frog,” has drawn attention of researchers in the Amazon, reported online media. Scientists discovered the remarkable species, only 24 millimeters (about 1 inch) long as an adult, nocturnal and transparent, in 2002 during nighttime surveys in Cachoeira da Onca, in Presidente Figueiredo, an Amazon municipality, 170 kilometers (about 106 miles) from Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state.

Hyalinobatrachium iaspidiense, or Glass Frog, Intrigues

Still little known in scientific circles, the glass frog, with bright green dorsal sporting black spots has transparent belly, yellowish-green iris and T-shaped fingers. “Men do not pay much attention to amphibians, finding them disgusting and useless. [But one should] know that these animals are extremely valuable to the environmental balance,” Marcelo Lima, biologist at the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA) told G1.

The biologist said that the glass frogs are necessary to the existence of snakes because the serpents eat them. With a possible disappearance of the species, the predators would also be at risk of extinction. “It can be argued that attitudes such as removal of riparian vegetation (vegetation near the banks of rivers) make the species more vulnerable, as it is sensitive to environmental change and cannot stay long in the sun, running the risk of dehydration and death,” said the biologist.

The glass frog is a nocturnal animal which feeds on invertebrates, especially insects. Its predators include spiders and snakes, as well as man himself, which kills without realizing it, said Marcelo Lima. As for reproduction, the researcher explains that all species of frog spawn on leaves above the water.

“On average, females lay about 20 eggs during the rainy season, between December and May. The eggs develop for a few days there. Then the tadpoles break the egg capsule, fall into the water and stay until completing development,” said the biologist, who added that they still do not know the development time of the animal.