Скачать или смотреть Puerto Rican 'Rasta' Caterpillar & Coqui Frog

This video has a huge 6" 'Rasta' caterpillar, and a teeny tiny 2" Coqui frog from Puerto Rico. Thanks for watching! Come to the Enchanted Island!

Pseudosphinx tetrio - Introduction

The tetrio sphinx, Pseudosphinx tetrio (Linnaeus), is a common moth in the American tropics and subtropics that less frequently occurs in southern parts of Florida. Although the adults exhibit mostly drab grey coloration, larvae are conspicuous, large caterpillars that often occur in gardens feeding on frangipani and other members of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae).

Description

Larvae: Larvae are velvety black with yellow rings and a reddish-orange head. They can attain lengths of up to 6 inches. The black 'horn' located on abdominal segment 8 is approximately one inch long and is located on an elevated orange 'button'. Thoracic legs and prolegs are orange with black spots. Newly molted larvae are light yellow and dark gray in alternating transverse rings; several hours after molting, larvae become their typical yellow and black coloration.

Life Cycle and Biology

Females lay approximately 50 to 100 eggs in clusters on leaves of the host tree. The larval color pattern is a typical aposematic warning sign that they are potentially toxic to predators. Host plants in the family Apocynaceae produce white, toxic latex that Pseudosphinx tetrio is able to detoxify and possibly sequester for defense purposes. Some cuckoo birds in Belize however are not deterred and have been reported feeding on larvae (Meerman 2002). The larva has been hypothesized to be a coral snake mimic in Costa Rica (Janzen 1980). Janzen (1980) also reported that larvae wave their anterior portion back and forth when disturbed and bite when handled. Larval hairs have also been reported to cause a clinical case of keratitis (Merle et al. 2001).

Jahnes et al. (2002) conducted preliminary studies to define the interactions and bioactive properties of Pseudosphinx tetrio larvae and the host plant Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce ex Müll. Arg.) Woodson. Himatanthus sucuuba bark extracts are used as an anti-inflammatory and to treat various ailments such as anemia, arthritis, and cancer. Minno and Darrow (1995) suggested that native Florida host plants may include the apocynaceous vines Rhabdadenia biflora (Jaqc.) and Echites umbellata Jacq. These vines occur in salt marshes and at the edges of mangrove forests in southern Florida.


Common Coqui - Eleutherodactylus coqui - Introduction

Class-Amphibia, Order-Anura, Family-Leptodactylidae, Genus-Eleutherodactylus, Species-coqui. Eleutherodactylus coqui is a tiny frog native to the islands of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra. The Common Coqui gets its name from the unique nightime calling sound (ko-kee) made by the male of the species. It is the most abundant frog species in Puerto Rico with densities estimated at 20,000 individuals per Hectare. E. coqui is now an important symbol of Puerto Rico's culture; it has become the unofficial “mascot” of the island’s people.
Description

E. coqui can be easily recognized by its uniform color: mottled or freckled brown or grayish-brown. It may have a “W” shaped marking behind the nape of the neck, a chevron at the middle of the back and an externally concave line on each side. The thighs of E. coqui are generally a slightly darker shade of brown than the body and may have yellow-green mottling. Mature males average 1.3 inches (34 millimeters, while mature females average 1.6 inches (41 millimeters) ) in snout to vent length. The size differential between genders is believed to be related to the additional energy consumption of males during breeding activity. Like most Eleutherodactylus species, E. coqui has disks and pads at the tips of the toes and fingers which are web-less.
Habits

The Common Coqui is a generally nocturnal predator. Diet varies depending on individual age and size but is primarily composed of arthropods (insects, crustaceans, arachnids). Young coquis consume smaller prey such as ants while adults consume a more varied diet that includes spiders, moths, crickets, snails and even smaller frogs. The male’s call is a loud “Ko-Kee” repeated frequently.

They reproduce over the entire year but breeding activity peaks around the wet season. Females usually lay a “clutch” of 16 to 40 eggs from 4 to 6 times each year at roughly 8-week intervals. Eggs are guarded from predators such as snakes and snails, by males. The gestation period is from 17 to 26 days. E. coqui young reach maturity at approximately eight months.

Unlike many frog species that lay their eggs in water, coquís lay their eggs on the leaves of terrestrial trees or plants as well as in abandoned bird nests. Thus E.coqui reproduces without a direct dependency on water. Since eggs are laid on land, limbs are developed within the egg, rather than metamorphizing as larva in water. As the egg hatches, a fully formed froglet emerges; it has a small tail that is soon lost.