Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent, Frank Fragano,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
PURPLE-BARRED TREE-FROG Hypsiboas raniceps
This slender, almost skeletal tree-frog is commonly encountered in some parts of the country, and is often found around human dwellings. Though like many frogs he is able to change colour (polychromatic), his name comes from the diagnostic purple-barred thighs or "flash-colours" that are used in display and to momentarily confuse potential predators. It is one of the largest and most common arboreal frogs, reaching up to 7cm in length.
FIGURE 1 - Lateral view of adult, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Alberto Esquivel undated - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 2 - Lateral view of adult, Bahía Negra (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 3 - Dorsal view of same individual showing purple "flash colours" on thighs (Paul Smith September 2006).
FIGURE 4 - Yellow adult, near Filadelfia, Cuenca Upper Yacaré Sur (Mike Hamer 1983).
FIGURE 5 - Same individual frontal view (Mike Hamer 1983).
FIGURE 6 - Brown adult, near Filadelfia, Cuenca Upper Yacaré Sur (Mike Hamer 1983).
FIGURE 7 - Same individual flash colours (Mike Hamer 1983).
FIGURE 8 - Adult upperside, near Filadelfia, Cuenca Upper Yacaré Sur (Mike Hamer 1983).
FIGURE 9 - Adult lateral, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007- ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 10 - Upperside of same individual (Paul Smith November 2007- ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 11 - Underside of same individual (Paul Smith November 2007- ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 12 - Flash colours, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Alberto Esquivel November 2007 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 13 - Adult lateral, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007- ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 14 - Adult frontal, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Chris Elder November 2007- ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 15 - Adult head detail, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Chris Elder November 2007- ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
VIDEO - Adult singing, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007- ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
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Hypsiboas raniceps call recorded near Loma Plata, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Paul Smith October 2007).
Click the links to hear the calls.