Etheridge's Robber Frog

Eleutherodactylus etheridgei is a small frog, with males reaching 20 mm and the larger females up to 24 mm in SVL (Lando and Williams 1969). The vomerine teeth, behind the choanae, are in a long, almost straight series (Schwartz 1958; Schwartz and Henderson 1985; Schwartz and Henderson 1991). Digital discs are small and there is no webbing between the toes (Lando and Williams 1969). These frogs are greenish gray to light tan dorsally, with a suffusion of little white dots and darker blotches from snout to vent. There is a black to dark brown canthal line extending from the snout through the eye, above the tympanum, and ending above the forelimbs. Fused to the end of the canthal line, there is a dusky interocular bar, a black scapular blotch and two lateral blotches. The thighs have anterior and concealed surfaces of dull purplish tan. The venter is white (Lando and Williams 1969; Schwartz 1958; Schwartz and Henderson 1985; Schwartz and Henderson 1991).Eleutherodactylus etheridgei is a member of the subgenus Euhyas (Heinicke et al. 2007). Etymology- Named for Richard Etheridge, collector of the type series (Schwartz 1958).

This species is endemic to Cuba and it is known only from scattered localities in the south coast of Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo provinces. It occurs from sea level to near sea level, up to 150 m in elevation, in xeric areas (Schwartz and Henderson 1991; Fong 2005).

This is a terrestrial species found under stones, wood pieces, and in holes in limestone soil and cliffs. These are nocturnal frogs. Activity is increased during periods of rainfall. Males vocalize from the ground and sometimes from low shrubs. Calls are a series of soft notes (Schwartz 1958; Lando and Williams 1969; Schwartz and Henderson 1991; Fong unpublished).

Habitat modification is considered the principal threat to this species, resulting from infrastructure development for human settlement, including tourist developments, as well as the disturbance of the habitat by tourists (Vales et al. 1998; Hedges and Diaz 2004).

Eleutherodactylus etheridgei is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae endemic to Cuba. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.