Cordoba´s Tree-frog

Characterized by a moderate body size, males of this taxon typically measure between 43 and 52 mm in snout-vent length, while females are slightly larger. The body is slender and streamlined, with elongated limbs ending in prominent adhesive discs on the digits, which facilitate climbing on rocky surfaces. The dorsal coloration is highly variable, ranging from light brown to grayish-green, often marked with irregular dark blotches or reticulations. A distinctive diagnostic feature is a well-defined dark lateral stripe extending from the snout tip, passing through the eye and tympanum, and fading along the flanks. Additionally, the posterior surfaces of the thighs present a unique reticulated pattern of violet or purple markings over a lighter background, a key trait for species identification. The dorsal skin is smooth or finely granular, while the ventral surface is whitish or cream-colored.

Geographical distribution: This amphibian is endemic to central Argentina. Its geographic range is strictly restricted to the montane systems of the Córdoba (Sierras Grandes and Sierras Chicas) and San Luis (Sierras de San Luis) provinces. It occurs across an altitudinal gradient ranging from 800 to 2,200 meters above sea level, representing isolated highland populations.

Habitat: Highly specialized and closely associated with mountain lotic systems. It predominantly occupies the margins of clear-water montane streams with slow to moderate currents flowing through high-altitude grasslands and rocky ravines. It is also found in semi-permanent pools, natural springs, and water-filled rocky crevices where riparian vegetation, such as sedges and grasses, provides vital cover.

Feeding: Exhibits opportunistic and generalist insectivorous feeding habits. Its diet consists mainly of a diverse array of terrestrial and flying invertebrates captured during its nocturnal activity. Primary prey items include beetles, flies, ants, insect larvae, and spiders, which are detected visually through their movement and captured using a rapid tongue protrusion.

Behavior: Strictly nocturnal and crepuscular in its daily cycle. During daylight hours, it remains concealed beneath stones, inside rocky crevices, or within dense vegetation to prevent dehydration. At dusk, individuals emerge to perch on wet rocks near stream banks. Males are highly territorial during the breeding season, producing a low-pitched, repetitive advertisement call from elevated rocky perches to attract females and defend their calling territories.

Reproduction: The breeding season takes place during the spring and summer months, typically from October to March. Males aggregate in choruses near slow-moving water sections. Following axillary amplexus, the female deposits egg clutches in gelatinous masses anchored to submerged vegetation or the underside of rocks to prevent displacement by currents. The tadpoles are benthic and morphologically adapted to flowing water, possessing specialized oral discs that allow them to cling to rocky substrates while scraping algae and detritus.

Conservation status: Listed as Threatened at the national level in Argentina and evaluated as Vulnerable or Endangered by various herpetological assessments due to its highly restricted and fragmented distribution. The primary threats to its survival include habitat degradation driven by cattle grazing, uncontrolled urban expansion, water pollution, and the introduction of invasive trout species, which heavily prey on tadpoles. Additionally, the species is vulnerable to chytridiomycosis, a disease caused by the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.