HABITAT USE BY Agalychnis Annae (ANURA: HYLIDAE) AT AN URBAN GREEN SPACE IN COSTA RICA.

Abstract

Information on habitat use for several hylids, such as Agalychnis annae, is limited. This species breeds in ponds, requiring the presence of plants near small water bodies for successful reproduction. The objective of this research was to examine the basic aspects of habitat use by Agalychnis annae. We studied a population of this species at the natural lagoon of the Simón Bolívar National Zoo, San José, Costa Rica. Individuals were found to prefer different types of perches based on sex/age category, with a higher number of adult females and juveniles observed on leaves, and more adult males observed on stems. The location on the substrate, as well as the height at which individuals of each sex/age category perched, was similar. A higher proportion of both juvenile and adult individuals were found on two grasses (Cyperus involucratus and Coix lacryma-jobi). Egg masses were found on seven plant species, with the majority located on Coix lacryma-jobi and a bamboo (Rhipidocladum racemiflorum). Agalychnis annae may choose vegetation for oviposition based on its structure rather than its abundance. Similarly, the finding that females prefer leaves over stems for placing eggs can be explained by the surface area and support that a leaf offers compared to a stem. These findings provide valuable insights into the habitat preferences and reproductive behavior of Agalychnis annae and may contribute to future management and conservation strategies for this species.