PRIMER REGISTRO DEL COMPORTAMIENTO DEFENSIVO POSTURA UNKEN EN UNA RANA CRÍPTICA CENTROAMERICANA Elachistocleis panamensis (ANURA: MICROHYLIDAE)

Katherine González; Carolina Mitre-Ramos

doi:10.22201/fc.25942158e.2025.2.1276

Authors

Katherine González Purdue University
Carolina Mitre-Ramos Universidad de Panamá, Escuela de Biología, Bella Vista, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá. Asociación ADOPTA Bosque Panamá (ADOPTA), Gamboa, Panamá

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2025.2.1276

Keywords:

Anura, Cryptic coloration, Panama humming frog, Anti-predatory mechanisms

Abstract

Visual anti-predatory defenses, such as body postures, are critical when cryptic coloration is insufficient to prevent predation. We report the unken reflex for the first time in Elachistocleis panamensis, a cryptic species restricted to Panama and Colombia. We observed a male Elachistocleis panamensis exhibiting this behavior in response to a capture attempt, arching its back and raising its head, a typical characteristic of the unken reflex. While the unken reflex is commonly associated with aposematic species, in this species, may act as a secondary defensive mechanism during close predator encounters. The present record includes Microhylidae in the list of anuran species exhibiting the unken reflex. Our findings underscore the need for experimental studies to evaluate the frequency, efficacy, and ecological triggers of the unken reflex in anurans.

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