Walker's marsupial frog

Walker's marsupial frog
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hemiphractidae
Genus: Gastrotheca
Species:
G. walkeri
Binomial name
Gastrotheca walkeri
Duellman, 1980
Synonyms
  • Gastrotheca walkeri Trueb and Duellman, 1978
  • Gastrotheca (Opisthodelphys) walkeri Dubois, 1987 "1986"
  • Gastrotheca (Cryptotheca) walkeri Duellman, 2015
  • Cryptotheca walkeri Dubois, Ohler, and Pyron, 2021

Walker's marsupial frog (Gastrotheca walkeri) is a species of frog in the family Hemiphractidae. It is endemic to Venezuela.

Habitat

People see this frog on bushes, trees, and palm fronds, about 1 to 2 m (3 ft 3 in to 6 ft 7 in) above the ground in submontane moist forests and cloud forests. People hear the male frogs call frogs from bromeliad plants. This frog is sympatric with G. ovifera and Flectonotus pygmaeus. Scientists have seen the frog between 650 and 1,200 m (2,130 and 3,940 ft) above sea level.

The frog's known range overlaps two protected parks: Henri Pittier National Park and Yurubí National Park.

Reproduction

The female frog carries her eggs on her back. This frog breeds through direct development with no free-swimming tadpole stage.

Threats

The IUCN classifies this species as vulnerable to extinction. The principal threats are habitat loss and deforestation in favor of urbanization, agriculture, and swine farming. The frog is also in danger from pollution. Scientists have detected the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the area. Many other frogs in the area have suffered from chytridiomycosis.


References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ballestas, O. (2022). "Gastrotheca walkeri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022 e.T55363A198641164. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T55363A198641164.en. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Frost, Darrel R. "Gastrotheca walkeri Duellman, 1980". Amphibian Species of the World, an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Gastrotheca walkeri Duellman, 1980". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved August 22, 2026.