Grenada Piping Frog

The Grenada Piping Frog (Pristimantis euphronides) is a small, nocturnal frog that is only found in Grenada (Endemic). The calls of the piping frog can be heard as calm choruses at night, likely in communities boarding the Grand Etang Forest Reserve, where they exclusively feed on insects. Males are slightly smaller than females (27 vs 39 mm) and are nearly the length of $1 XCD.

If you are in a rain forest that is 300 m above sea level, you are more likely to see a Grenada Piping Frog! Look out for a brown back, cream belly, dark strip from the eyes to armpit, orangery-brown thighs and bronze upper irises. This picture was taken at the Grand Etang Forest Reserve by Ximena Ferreyra.

Threats & Status

Though population size of the Piping frog is unknown, they face several threats to survival and are listed under the IUCN Red List as Endangered. The frogs are isolated to Grenada's interior because much of the native Evergreen and Upper Mountain forests (rain forests) have been degraded or lost. Yet another threat is climate change, which is expected to push rain forests, along with the Piping frog, further inland. A potential threat to Piping frogs, however, is Chytrid fungus. While Chytrid fungus has never been recorded in Grenada, it has lead to the near extinction of many amphibians worldwide - the fungus increases the thickness of skin, and amphibians are no longer able to breathe, release toxins, or absorbed water and nutrients.

Conservation – What Can You Do?

We can all play our part in protecting the Grenada Piping frog by advocating for the preservation of Grenada’s rain forests. And, while the Antilles Coqui (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei), i.e. the frog in your bathroom, is not the Grenada Piping frog, be reminded every time you see one that their quieter, distance cousins need your advocacy to stay alive. With your support, your grandchildren will have the privilege of natures' serenade during a late evening stroll in the Grand Etang Forest Reserve.