Large aggregation during metamorphosis in the map treefrog, Boana geographica (Spix, 1824) in southeastern Peru

Crnobrna B.; Champagne P.S.; Lopez-Rojas J.J. · Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment (2026) · DOI: 10.1080/01650521.2026.2726978

Resumen

We observed large aggregations of metamorphosing individuals in Boana geographica in the lowland Peruvian Amazon of southeastern Peru. These observations were recorded in Lago Soledad (Madre de Dios, Peru) and were associated with high local abundance based on transect surveys. Tadpoles formed dense schools in aquatic habitats, and metamorphosis occurred in large numbers over short spatial and temporal scales, with thousands of individuals observed within a single site. Terrestrial surveys revealed exceptionally high densities of recently metamorphosed juveniles in the surrounding forest floor. Similar events were recorded at multiple locations around the lake over a short period. These observations suggest that large aggregations during the metamorphic period may be more widespread in this species than previously documented. Our findings provide detailed natural history information on aggregation and metamorphosis in B. geographica and highlight the need for further study of the environmental context and frequency of these events.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Ucayali; Universidad Nacional de San Martín