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Home range and breeding ecology of Phasmahyla cruzi (Anura: Phyllomedusidae)

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  • João Bachur,
  • Karoline Ceron,
  • Luis Felipe Toledo,
  • Edelcio Muscat
João Bachur
Projeto Dacnis
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-19377

Published 2026-03-10

Keywords

  • anuran conservation,
  • rainforest,
  • Reproductive biology,
  • spatial ecology

How to Cite

Bachur, J., Ceron, K., Toledo, L. F., & Muscat, E. (2026). Home range and breeding ecology of Phasmahyla cruzi (Anura: Phyllomedusidae). Acta Herpetologica. https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-19377

Copyright (c) 2026 João Bachur, Karoline Ceron, Luis Felipe Toledo, Edelcio Muscat

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

Phasmahyla cruzi is an endemic treefrog species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest for which basic natural history information is still lacking. In this study, we monitored two populations over a 12-month period in Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, to investigate the species’ ecology, home range, and reproductive patterns. We used non-invasive photographic identification combined with minimum convex polygon (MCP) analysis to estimate home ranges. Based on the monthly sampling, we assessed the influence of abiotic factors (temperature and humidity) on activity patterns. We recorded 1,054 adult, 2,142 tadpole, and 22 egg clutch encounters. Males vocalized from September to April and showed territorial behaviour. Reproduction occurred through axillary amplexus, with oviposition on folded leaves suspended over streams. Mean P. cruzi estimated home range was 460 m2, with individuals in higher elevations using significantly larger areas. A positive relationship was found between humidity and both individual abundance and clutch frequency. This study presents the first detailed data on habitat use, reproduction, and spatial ecology of P. cruzi, providing essential information for conservation efforts targeting this poorly known species endemic to the Atlantic Rainforest.

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