Pumilio Import Location Data ("Bruno", "Almir

rmelancon · #1 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 03:07 AM

We now have some location data on the recent pumilio imports. These locations are where the foundation stock were collected. The data is not exact nor do we have geographic coordinates or anything like that. I am not going to make an attempt to name these as new or existing morphs. I will simply provide what I was given and hopefully we can get some discussion going as to where to go from here.

Almirante - basically we were incorrect as they were collected nowhere near Almirante. These were collected "on the road to Chirique Grande". For those that have been there, there is a road to Chririque Grande that ends at the coast. In the ditches along side the road you can (could) find the "Chirique Grande" morph (green with black markings) and in the hills next to the road you find a red pumilio with bluish to gray legs. Not sure if these are identical to the "Man Creek" morph or not. I have only seen one picture of "Man Creek" and that one picture looks very similar to what we have. The location for "Man Creek" is pretty close to Chirique Grande so again, it is possibly the same frog but I'm really not sure. If anyone knows of a site that has more pictures of "Man Creek" pumilio please post it.

Bruno - again, these were collected quite a distance from where "Bruno" are reported so they are most likely not Bruno. There is also a size difference that probably rules Bruno out anyway. These were collected by "Boca del Rio Chirique, where the Chirique River meets the Carribean". These frogs resemble the pictures I've seen of "Chirique Grande" morph but were collected pretty far from Chirique Grande. The spotted, no spotted, green, greenish yellow, etc. were all collected from the same location.

So, thoughts and comments...

kyle1745 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 04:10 AM

Great info, so is there any way to be sure?

markpulawski · #3 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 12:35 PM

Robb I understand most of the last 2 importations of the Pumilio have died, any info of any health testing being done on these animals, before or after export? Panama is now going through a chytrid crisis with entire geographic areas of amphibians being wiped out, I would hate to see anyone go through what we had to deal with after the Terribilis imports of '96. I know fecals have been run by some people, it would be great if anyone with any other test data would share that with us.

#4 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 02:36 PM

Specifically a skin test would be nice, especially on the bastimentos...although I've heard that even the almirante (or man creek, or whatever) have been coming in rough as well.

Has anyone tried a skin culture? I think this will be my pet project for this semester, the only problem is that I will only be able to identify whether or not the infection is fungal or bacterial. Is there anyone, if I send pics of the culture, who would be able to ID?

rmelancon · #5 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 03:14 PM

Kyle - I can't think of anything that would be gained from providing false location data. None of those morphs exist in the US anyway so I don't think there would be any benefit trying to "create" new ones.

Mark - I had one animal (red & blue) from the first shipment tested for Chytrid and it came back negative. I don't have exact numbers on losses from the last 2 shipments but there have been some number of losses in all of the shipments to date. I know one of the last 2 shipments came in very cold and I would attibute a lot of losses to that stress.

It would certainly be helpful to know what, if any, fungal tests have been done by others. We should start a different thread for that as I would like to know peoples thoughts on identification of these animals.

steelcube · #6 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 05:42 PM

What are we going to call these "almirante" then? "On the road to Chirique Grande" morph is sure is not practical to use.

SB

rmelancon · #7 (**permalink**) 01-02-2005, 06:52 PM

Well, being that there is already an Almirante morph named because it is found near the "city" of Almirante I would prefer that we not confuse these two separate locations.

#8 (**permalink**) 01-03-2005, 06:33 AM

so what should we begin calling these morphs? I think a new name should begin being used fast, before any more confusion occurs.

steelcube · #9 (**permalink**) 01-03-2005, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Well, being that there is already an Almirante morph named because it is found near the "city" of Almirante I would prefer that we not confuse these two separate locations.

I agree... any city or village close by, that people can adopt the name?

SB

rmelancon · #10 (**permalink**) 01-03-2005, 07:50 PM

I'm thinking Chirique River or Rio Chirique (same thing really) for the greens.

Still not sure about the reds.