Coastal Red-rumped Frog

Coastal red-rumped frog (Eleutherodactylus paralius) is a small direct-developing frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae, endemic to lowland coastal forests and their margins in Cuba and possibly other Caribbean islands. Like all members of the speciose genus Eleutherodactylus, it bypasses an aquatic larval stage, with embryos developing directly within the egg into miniature froglets. The species inhabits humid leaf litter, root tangles, and low vegetation in coastal forest and scrub, emerging nocturnally to forage for small invertebrates including insects and arachnids. The common name refers to reddish or orange coloration on the posterior flanks or groin, which may serve as an aposematic signal or camouflage disruptive pattern. Eleutherodactylus is the most species-rich vertebrate genus on Earth, with hundreds of species distributed across the Caribbean and the Americas. Coastal red-rumped frog is assessed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, reflecting pressure from habitat loss driven by coastal development, logging, and the spread of chytrid fungus, which has devastated amphibian populations globally. Monitoring and habitat protection are critical for its persistence.