Manaus Spiny-backed Frog (Osteocephalus taurinus )

About Manaus Spiny-backed Frog (Osteocephalus taurinus )

• Kingdom: Animals
• Phylum: Chordates
• Class: Amphibians
• Order: Toads and Frogs
• Family: Tree Frogs

The species is arboreal and nocturnal, and occurs on the edges of streams in "terra-firme" forest. At night, individuals can be found on branches or trunks of trees over or near streams. During the day, they are found on roots, rocks or fallen trunks near water. Males call near waterfalls or where obstacles, such as fallen branches, produce noise in streams. Reproduction occurs mainly in the dry season between June and December. The females deposit about 900-1000 eggs in embayments at the edges of streams. Tadpoles live in streams and are unpalatable to fish. Tadpoles are blue black on the back, and have transparent bellies and fins.

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