ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Herpetozoa Jahr/Year: 2019 Band/Volume: 31_3_4 Autor(en)/Author(s): Arrivillaga Christina, Brown Tom W. Artikel/Article: The orchid Myrmecophila tibicinis as a refuge for Scinax staufferi (COPE, 1865), on Isla de Utila, Honduras 237-239 All_Short_Notes:SHORT_NOTE.qxd 12.02.2019 14:47 Seite 19 SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 31 (3/4) Wien, 28. Februar 2019 SHORT NOTE 237 KEY WORDS: Reptilia: Squamata: Serpentes: epiphytic orchid Myrmecophila tibicinis Colubridae; Philodryas olfersii ; reproduction, Rora - OLFE ima, Brazil R , 1917, as refuge sites. In Central America, it is common for many amphib - SUBMITTED: March 15, 2018 ians to associate with epiphytic Bromeliads AUTHORS: Anderson Maciel ROCHA (Cor - responding author < [email protected] >) 1) & (DUNN 1937). However, to the best of the Patrik F. VIANA 2, 3) authors’ knowledge there have been no pre - 1) Faculdade Cathedral de Ensino Superior, Fa - viously published observations associating culdade Cathedral, Laboratório de Zoologia Aplicada anurans to microhabitats created by epiphyt - de Vertebrados Terrestres e Aquáticos, Avenida Luís ic Orchidaceae. Canuto Chaves, 293, Caçari, CEP 69307-655, Boa Vista, RR, Brasil. On February 27, 2018, at 17:25 h, the 2) Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Instituto authors retrieved four large orchids that Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - Campus II, Av. were felled from a mature mango tree ( Man - André Araújo, 2936, 69080-971 Manaus, AM, Brazil. gifera sp .). The orchids ( M. tibicinis ) had 3) Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra 2616, Australia . previously grown on multiple large limbs ca. 5 – 8 m above ground, yet were felled owing to expansion and development of the road to Pumpkin Hill, which was previous - ly reported to have negative impacts on the The orchid native biodiversity ( BROWN et al. 2017). Myrmecophila tibicinis as a refuge Whilst collecting the orchids with the inten - for Scinax staufferi (C OPE , 1865), tion to reattach them to suitable sites, the on Isla de Utila, Honduras authors encountered at least eight individu - als of S. staufferi (Fig 1.) emerging simulta - neously from within the distinct tubular Scinax staufferi (C OPE , 1865), Stauf - fer’s Long-nosed Treefrog, is widely dis - pseudobulbs of M. tibicinis. Five of these tributed from Mexico to Costa Rica. On the individuals were successfully captured to Honduran Isla de Utila it was detected in prevent further disruption whilst moving the orchids, also providing the opportunity to 2005 ( MCCRANIE et al . 2005). This frog species is classified as Least Concern by the measure and gain basic morphological in - IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, yet is formation on S. staufferi from Isla de Utila. noted to have severely fragmented popula - The Snout-vent-length of the captured indi - tions throughout its range ( SANTOS -B AR- viduals ranged from 14-17 mm, whilst the RERA et al . 2010). On Utila, the species has body mass was between 0.3 – 0.5 g, consis - been observed within various habitat types, tent with reports of mainland populations including broad-leaf forest, neo-tropical (KöHLER 2011). At ca. 20:00 h, the individ - savanna, freshwater swamp forest, grass - uals were released back on the orchids, land and some disturbed vegetated habitats which had been reattached to trees at the alongside temporary freshwater bodies. Kanahau Utila Research and Conservation More than two-thirds of Utila’s surface is Facility (16.119383° N, 86.884989° W, covered by swamp forests and mangroves, WGS84 datum). Opportunistic weekly sur - predominantly consisting of vegetation tol - veys of the relocation site were conducted erant to the influence of brackish or salt from March until November 2018. These water ( FICKERT & G RUNINGER 2010). Due regular visits consistently found individuals to the relative lack of permanent freshwater of S. staufferi active at night on the leaves of on the island, it previously remained un - orchids until late September. known where S. staufferi resides during the Myrmecophila tibicinis is an epiphyt - dry season. Presumably, the reproductive ic species which occurs in low nutrient and cycle of this species on Utila is limited to open canopy habitats distributed from the one distinct rainy season, which lasts southern Mexico through most of Central from approximately October to January America ( DRESSLER 1981). On Utila, this (PASACHNIK et al. 2012). orchid is relatively common and well dis - The present note documents the first tributed throughout broad-leaf, mangrove observations of S. staufferi utilizing the and swamp forest habitats (pers. observ.). All_Short_Notes:SHORT_NOTE.qxd 12.02.2019 14:47 Seite 20 238 SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 31 (3/4) Wien, 28. Februar 2019 SHORT NOTE Fig. 1: Scinax staufferi (COPE , 1865), in situ next to an ant ( Crematogaster sp.) sitting on a leaf of the epiphytic orchid, Myrmecophila tibicinis ROLFE , 1917, on Isla de Utila, Honduras. Fig. 2: On Isla de Utila, Honduras, different sized openings in the pseudobulbs of the epiphytic orchid Myrmecophila tibicinis ROLFE , 1917, provide home and refuge to symbiotic ants ( Crematogaster sp.), other invertebrates and Scinax staufferi (COPE , 1865) . All_Short_Notes:SHORT_NOTE.qxd 12.02.2019 14:47 Seite 21 SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 31 (3/4) Wien, 28. Februar 2019 SHORT NOTE 239 Each M. tibicinis plant can possess up to 30 Utila, Honduras. All data collection was performed with valid biological research and collection permits to 40 tubular hollow pseudobulbs with (Resolución DE-MP-054-2017 – Dictamen técnico openings of various size (Fig 2.) that serve ICF-DVS-169-2017; Dictamen técnico DAP-068- as entrances to nesting sites for several 2017); for the project “Conservación de los reptiles y species of symbiotic ants of the genus Cre - anfibios de Utila, Honduras” issued in part to T. W. Brown (KURCF) by General Director Misael León and matogaster (DRESSLER 1982; R ICO -G RAY et General Secretary Gudit Mariel Muñoz of Instituto al. 1989). This epiphyte associates with Nacional de Conservación y Desarrollo Forestal, Áreas ants in several ways, providing physical Protegidas y Vida Silvestre (ICF), Tegucicalpa, Hon - protection and provisioning of moisture duras. (DAVID SON & E PSTEIN 1989). The hollow REFERENCES: BROWN , T. W. & M ARYON , D. pseudobulbs of M. tibicinis create micro - & L ONSDALE , G. (2017): Habitat diversification and natural history observations in Norops utilensis habitats exploited by a diverse invertebrate (Squamata; Dactyloidae) on Isla de Utila, Honduras.- community (pers. observ.). On Utila, it Mesoamerican Herpetology, open access electronic appears that both the created refuge and journal available at < http://mesoamericanherpetology. associated food source is utilized by the com/previous-issues.html >: 4 (3): 974-979. DAVID- SON , D. W. & E PSTEIN , W. W. (1989): Epiphytic associ - hylid S. staufferi , whereby the orchids pro - ations with ants; pp. 200–233. In: LüTTGE , U. (Ed.): vide a regulated mi croclimate and resident Vascular plants as epiphytes : Evolution and ecophysi - insect prey source for the frogs. Utila has ology [based on papers presented during a symposium held during the 14th International Botanical Congress limited freshwater sources ( FICKERT & in July 1987 in Berlin], Berlin (Springer Verlag). GRUNINGER 2010), suggesting that this DRESSLER , R. L. (1981): The orchids : natural history insular S. staufferi population was driven to and classification. Cambridge (Harvard University explore different habitats that can provide Press), pp. 332. DUNN , E. R. (1937): The amphibian and reptilian fauna of bromeliads in Costa Rica and protection, food and moisture during Panama.- Copeia, Washington; 1937 (3): 163-167. lengthy periods of drought. The reported FICKERT , T. & G RüNINGER , F . (2010): Floristic zona - observations were made at the start of the tion, vegetation structure, and plant diversity patterns dry season, continuing post-relocation until within a Caribbean mangrove and swamp forest on the Bay Island of Utila (Honduras).- Ecotropica, Tübingen; the beginning of the rainy season (i.e., 16: 73-92. KöHLER , G. (2011): Amphibians of Central February – September). This timespan sug - America. Offenbach ( Herpeton), pp. 379. MCCRANIE , gests that S. staufferi seek refuge within J. R. & W ILSON , L. D. & K öHLER , G . (2005): Amphibi - ans & reptiles of the Bay Islands and Cayos Cochinos, damp microhabitats (such as orchid havens) Honduras. Salt Lake City (Bibliomania), pp. XII, 210. during the island’s dry period, before mi - PASACHNIK , S. A. & M ONTGOMERY , C. E. & M ARTíNEZ , grating to reproduce in seasonally available A. & B ELAL , N. & C LAYSON , S. & F AULKNER S. (2012): freshwater habitats. Though the strength Body size, demography, and body condition in Utila Spiny Tailed Iguanas, Ctenosaura bakeri .- Herpetolo - and frequency they associate with M. tibici - gical Conservation and Biology, open access electron - nis is unknown, the authors believe that ic journal available at < http://www.herpconbio.org/ >; whenever naturally accessible, these 7 (3): 391-398. RICO -G RAY , V. & B ARBER , J. T. & THIEN , L. N. & E LLGAARD , E. G. & T ONEY , J . (1989): orchids can serve as important food and An unusual animal-plant interaction: Feeding of moisture reservoirs for S. staufferi on Utila. Schomburgkia tibicinis (Orchidacea) by ants.- Ameri - Many of the