One of the most characteristic sounds of the neotropical rain forests is a rather mournful whooping call that is often heard at dusk on rainy or very humid nights, but which may sometimes be heard well after the tropical darkness has fallen. Although many have heard this call, used in motion pictures and other sound tracks, far fewer realize that it is the breeding call of a frog--a big frog, a bullfrog sized frog.



It is the call of the smoky jungle frog, Leptodactylus pentadactylus, a common, primarily terrestrial, rainforest denizen, and it is one that we usually easily see on our tours. In fact, when climatic conditions are ideal we can at times see the red eyeshine of 10 or more on the forest trail just behind the compound on Madre Selva Biological Preserve.

The alert frogs often sit next to their burrows on the open trail, but they are wary and if not approached very carefully they will jump into the burrow long before you are close to them. They also breed in burrows with eggs laid in foam nests that may or may not be in contact with water.

I should mention that the glandular secretions of this and related species are quite virulent. It is best not to handle these frogs if you have open cuts/scratches on your hands and need I say this? After handling one NEVER RUB YOUR EYES before washing your hands!