Bioacoustics of Aromobates tokuko

Distribution, habitat and natural history. Aromobates tokuko is only known from four localities in the Río Tokuko basin (Kiriponsa, near Ipika, upstream of the Kusare waterfall, and Terakibu) on the eastern versant of the Sierra de Perijá, northwestern Venezuela , between elevations of 419 and 1005 m ( Fig. 4 ). The vegetation of this altitudinal belt was described by Huber & Alarcón (1988) as seasonal semideciduous ombrofilous basimontane forest (from 100–800 m asl), and ombrofilous submontane/montane evergreen forest (from 800–2500 m asl). The region has a biseasonal climatic regime, with a dry period from December–April, and a rainy period from May– November, with maximum rain peaks in May and October, and minimum rain in January and July ( Masciangioli & Febres 2000 ). Aromobates tokuko is a diurnal and cryptic riparian frog. Even though its presence in the streams can be readily detected by its vocalization, it is very hard to detect visually because males call from underneath rocks or logs, or from hollows and shelters, and exhibit a cryptic dorsal color pattern. The eleven specimens (three males, four females and four juveniles) collected near Ipika on November 2006 were found under rocks and rotten logs around a small quiet pool, in an area of about 4 m 2, along a small intermittent stream permanently shaded by dense canopy in the gallery forest. During the collecting effort (1400–1500 h), several males were heard calling from hidden sites along the stream, but we failed to record the vocalizations. Several tadpoles of A. tokuko in different larval stages were found in the pool but no adult specimen carrying tadpoles were observed. Several tadpoles, and two adults of Leptodactylus cf. wagneri were also found in syntopy with the tadpoles of A. tokuko . On December 2006 , two males (MHNLS 18498 and 18499) were collected while vocalizing at 1140 h, hidden under rocks along a shaded section of a fast moving stream, upstream from Kusare waterfall ( Fig. 5 ). Both males were about 1.5 m apart while calling. At this locality, A. tokuko is syntopic with Rhaebo haematiticus and Leptodactylus cf. wagneri . Finally, the specimens found at Kiriponsa (a female and three males) were collected at about 1600 h under rocks and in crevices of a large stone along a fast-moving stream. Numerous males were heard calling at this hour. The stream of Kiriponsa runs alongside an indigenous community and is surrounded by a shady coffee plantation.