Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've heard rumor that because of environmental stressors (mainly humans) that granuliferus have crossed the border and that there is now a small population established in Panama. Anyone know anything about this? I'm hoping there is some truth to this, since I keep hearing about localities of granis being wiped out or collected and smuggled to less strict countries concerning CITES.

Brian

I have heard from an unamed source that D. granuliferus' habitat is literally untouch by man. I'm sure I'm probably wrong here. Justin may know.

-Bill
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2.2.6 D. azureus
1.2.24 D. ventrimaculatus 'yellow'
1.1 D. tinctorius 'cobalt' (one subadult)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'patricia'
1.1 D. auratus 'blue'
0.2 P. aurotaenia

Granuliferus habitats are extremely restricted in many spots, and aside from one population in a private preserve, all we found were in rather restricted, some in very restricted habitat, (we never looked in Corcovado for them so cant vouch for pops which may be there) like a couple hectares at best of forest completely surrounded by cattle pasture. There are many more morphs of granuliferus than most people realize in CR, and some of them will undoubtedly be wiped out soon, and not by smuggling...

I believe there is one small population (according to F. Bolanos) just over the panamanian border, but i doubt this was the result of any sort of migration. Granuliferus dont seem to be as adaptive to disturbed habitat as pumilio, though we did find a sizable red poulation in the midst of recent development

im sure justin will add anything i missed

back to lurking...
mark

I'm going to have to say that M. Pepper did a fantastic job assessing the populations. We did notice small movement in the populations (in the dry season I marked where the boundries of the pop was, and that changed a big a month later when we revisited the locale). There was also one population that was completely gone from a region that Federico Bolanos did his Masters thesis in. There should have been over 300 marked frogs (toe clipped) from that region, and there was not a single one. I doubt that any smuggler could trap every specimen in an area that large. Also, some studies in French Guiana et al suggest that migration is taking effect in D. tinctorius and other species. That is personal communication and not published at this time.
Best,
Justin

I'm going to have to say that M. Pepper did a fantastic job assessing the populations. We did notice small movement in the populations (in the dry season I marked where the boundries of the pop was, and that changed a big a month later when we revisited the locale). There was also one population that was completely gone from a region that Federico Bolanos did his Masters thesis in. There should have been over 300 marked frogs (toe clipped) from that region, and there was not a single one. I doubt that any smuggler could trap every specimen in an area that large. Also, some studies in French Guiana et al suggest that migration is taking effect in D. tinctorius and other species. That is personal communication and not published at this time. Oh, let me also add that D. granuliferus does "migrate" from close to the stream bed during the dry season to about 20 to 30 meters from it in the one population I visited 4 times. As it gets wetter, they can move further from the water source. This, I suppose, could be a small seasonal migration.
Best,
Justin

The reason I mention the smuggling is that I heard that there had been some large scale collecting and smuggling done of granuliferus. Like a few hundred at a time. I don't want to stir up a hornets nest here, but I heard that the smuggling was done by some Europeans that took them through Spain's customs because they were more lax at that location, and that they then traveled to their respective locations. Alot of heresay, but even if it is alot of exaggeration, there is also usually a grain of truth too. Anyone care to comment?

Brian

I have spoken to locals who said a lot of "Germans" (a name for any European who they aren't sure where they are from-- non English or spanish speakers) were there collecting some frogs. This happens both in Bocas and in Costa Rica. As to any proof of smuggling, I don't have a shread. I have spoken to people at MINAE and SINAC about it, and they are going to try to protect the areas better. Problem is they don't know where they are. I am working on a paper to document exactly where we found frogs, and what can be done to protect the habitat and the frogs.
Best,
J

As far as I know there are no D.granuliferus smuggled into europe the last 2/3 years...at least not hundred or more. If so there must be some rumors and ofcourse I'm not working at customs and I don't no all 'german' frogkeepers...but rumors go fast..very fast and if you are an enthousiast frogkeeper in the Netherlands/Beglium/Germany you must heard something.

just my thoughts as frogkeeper on the otherside of the ocean.

Marcus