Painted Antnest Frog
Lithodytes lineatus
- Class
- Amphibian
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 578
- Most observed in
- 🇪🇨 Ecuador
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
Lithodytes is a genus of frogs in the family of Leptodactylidae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species, Lithodytes lineatus, also commonly known as the gold-striped frog or painted antnest frog. It is found in tropical South America where it lives in humid forests among the leaf litter. These frogs build foam nests at the edge of temporary pools, and the tadpoles develop within these. The frogs also associate with certain leafcutter ants (Atta cephalotes) and breed inside their nests without being attacked by the ants.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Lithodytes”.