Seasonal overland dispersal of the Suriname Toad, Pipa pipa (Linnaeus, 1758), in the Peruvian Amazon

Abstract

The Suriname toad (Pipa pipa) is a highly aquatic species with cryptic habits, making field observations rare. Despite its presumed dependency on permanent waterbodies, overland dispersal of the species remains poorly understood. We investigated P. pipa movement patterns at an oxbow lake in the Peruvian Amazon using pitfall traps deployed in November 2012 (early wet season) and April 2013 (late wet season). A total of 18 captured indicated directional movement between permanent water and seasonal wetlands. Nine individuals migrated from permanent water to seasonally flooded areas as they became inundated, then returned to permanent water as these wetlands dried. Pitfall traps facing opposing directions caught no individuals, confirming movement directionality. This represents the largest number of P. pipa encounters documented at a single site, providing evidence for regular terrestrial activity in this species. Our findings suggest that seasonal hydrological changes drive overland dispersal, exhibiting patterns akin to amphibian migration. We highlight the utility of pitfall trapping for studying P. pipa populations and provide a foundation for future studies on its dispersal ecology.