Phyllomedusa

Phyllomedusa
Waxy Monkey Leaf Frog (Phyllomedusa sauvagii)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Lissamphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Hylidae
Subfamily:	Phyllomedusinae
Genus:	Phyllomedusa Wagler, 1830
Species
See text

Phyllomedusa is a genus of tree frog from Central and South America. It ranges from Costa Rica southward to Argentina. It has around thirty species.

Secretion

Some Phyllomedusa species produce a waxy secretion that reduces the evaporative water loss of their bodies, thus keeping them from drying out.

Some indigenous groups from South America use the secretions of Phyllomedusa bicolor also called Giant Leaf Frog, in shamanic hunting practices. The substance is said to intoxicate the Indians who ingest it, causing them to temporarily improve their sensorial capacities.

Reproduction

In this genus of treefrogs, eggs are deposited on a leaf surface, interspersed with hydrating jelly capsules. During the mating process, the frogs fold the leaf around their batch of eggs using their limbs, with a jelly plug at the bottom of the folded leaf to prevent eggs from falling out. At hatching, the jelly plug is liquified, and the tadpoles drop through the previously plugged hole. These nests are made above water, so when this occurs the tadpoles drop into a suitable habitat, where they begin their lives as filter feeders.

Scientific classification

• Family Hylidae
  • Genus Phyllomedusa
    • Phyllomedusa araguari
    • Phyllomedusa atelopoides
    • Phyllomedusa ayeaye
    • Phyllomedusa azurea, Southern Orange-Legged Leaf Frog
    • Phyllomedusa bahiana
    • Phyllomedusa baltea
    • Phyllomedusa bicolor, Giant Leaf Frog
    • Phyllomedusa boliviana
    • Phyllomedusa burmeisteri, Burmeister's Leaf Frog
    • Phyllomedusa camba
    • Phyllomedusa centralis
    • Phyllomedusa coelestis
    • Phyllomedusa distincta
    • Phyllomedusa duellmani
    • Phyllomedusa ecuatoriana
    • Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis, Northern Orange-Legged Leaf Frog
    • Phyllomedusa iheringii
    • Phyllomedusa itacolomi
    • Phyllomedusa neildi
    • Phyllomedusa nordestina
    • Phyllomedusa oreades
    • Phyllomedusa palliata
    • Phyllomedusa perinesos
    • Phyllomedusa rohdei
    • Phyllomedusa sauvagii, Waxy Monkey Leaf Frog
    • Phyllomedusa tarsius, Tarsier Leaf Frog
    • Phyllomedusa tetraploidea
    • Phyllomedusa tomopterna, Barred Leaf Frog
    • Phyllomedusa trinitatis
    • Phyllomedusa vaillantii
    • Phyllomedusa venusta

See also

• Brand GD, Leite JR, Silva LP, et al. (December 2002). "Dermaseptins from Phyllomedusa oreades and Phyllomedusa distincta. Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity without cytotoxicity to mammalian cells". J. Biol. Chem. 277 (51): 49332–40. doi:10.1074/jbc.M209289200. PMID 12379643. http://www.jbc.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=12379643. 

External links

• Phyllomedusa Gallery with some infos
• Use of the Phyllomedusa bicolor venom as a vaccine by the Matses Indians, with pharmacological info