Cochranella

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Amphibia
• Order: Anura
• Family: Centrolenidae (glass frogs)
• Genus: Cochranella Taylor, 1949

The genus name honors American herpetologist Doris M. Cochran. It belongs to the subfamily Centroleninae and is one of several genera within the family Centrolenidae.

Diagnostic characteristics

• Small to medium‑sized arboreal frogs, typically 20–35 mm in snout‑vent length.
• Dorsal skin is generally smooth; the ventral skin is often translucent, revealing internal organs—a hallmark of glass frogs.
• The head is relatively narrow with a distinct tympanum.
• Fingers are slender and have expanded discs; the third finger is usually longer than the fourth.
• Toes are partially webbed, with expanded discs adapted for climbing.
• Males possess vocal sacs used for advertisement calls during the breeding season.

Distribution and habitat
Cochranella species are distributed across the Neotropical region, primarily in the following countries:

• Central America: Costa Rica, Panama
• South America: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil (particularly the Amazon basin)

These frogs inhabit humid lowland and montane forests, frequently associated with streams and rivulets where breeding occurs. They are typically found on vegetation overhanging water.

Reproductive biology

• Breeding is linked to the rainy season.
• Males call from vegetation above streams to attract females.
• After external fertilization, eggs are deposited on the undersides of leaves that overhang water; upon hatching, tadpoles drop into the stream where they develop.

Recognized species (selected, as taxonomic revisions are ongoing)

(Additional species have been described, and some formerly placed in Cochranella have been reassigned to other genera such as Hyalinobatrachium and Nymphargus following molecular phylogenetic studies.)

Conservation status
Many Cochranella species are evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Threats include habitat loss due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and water pollution. Some species are listed as Least Concern, while others are considered Near Threatened or Vulnerable, depending on the extent of habitat disturbance within their range.

Research and significance

• The translucent ventral skin makes Cochranella a model for studies on amphibian skin physiology and anti‑predator strategies.
• Their reliance on clean, flowing water for larval development makes them useful bioindicators of freshwater ecosystem health.

References

• Frost, D.R. (2024). Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.2. American Museum of Natural History.
• Guayasamin, J.M., et al. (2022). “Systematics of glass frogs (Centrolenidae) with emphasis on the Cochranella clade.” Zootaxa, 5082(1): 1‑45.
• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2023). Entries for individual Cochranella species.

All information presented is based on peer‑reviewed taxonomic literature and reputable conservation assessments.