Boana geographica
—
Map Treefrog
This species was placed in the large genus Hyla until a major revision of that genus in 2005. It was then placed in the genus Hypsiboas until 2017.
These frogs are called "Map Treefrogs" because the asymmetrical patterns on their back reminded someone of the contours of a map. They are large, impressive frogs. We woke this one up in order to get some photos of its big bulging eyes, but it quickly hunkered down into its "you can't see me" napping position.
Here is a complete list of the herps I saw in the wild on my 2013 MT Amazon Expeditions trip.
The heel spurs and blotchy appearance identify this sleeping treefrog as Boana geographica. I'm not sure why this nocturnal frog was sleeping at night. Perhaps it was dreaming of its next world travels, as I frequently do.
Here is a complete list of the herps I saw in the wild on my 2014 MT Amazon Expeditions trip.
I believe the mottled belly just visible here is enough to distinguish this large treefrog from its close relative Boana boans, which we also saw in vegetation around this same pond.
Printed references:
- Bartlett, R.D., and Bartlett, P. 2003. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon: An Ecotourist's Guide
- Duellman, W.E. 2005. Cusco Amazónico: The Lives of Amphibians and Reptiles in an Amazonian Rainforest
- Rodríguez, L. O. and Duellman, W. E. 1994. Guide to the Frogs of the Iquitos Region, Amazonian Peru