Eleutherodactylus planirostris
Discovered by surprise in the yard just outside miniBIOTA, this tiny frog was introduced to the Lakeshore to see whether its small size lets it thrive on the biome's ants, isopods, and springtails while staying out of reach of its resident predators.
Two adult Greenhouse Frogs (Eleutherodactylus planirostris) entered miniBIOTA's Lakeshore on August 2, 2026, followed by three likely-newborn juveniles on August 3, 2026. On October 16, 2026, two frogs were located during one Prairie survey, and a smaller frog was found in Lakeshore in a separate view. Both adults were alive and well on October 19, 2026, and one small frog was consistently found at night and appeared to be growing. Survival of the other juveniles and the total living population remain unknown. This is miniBIOTA's first amphibian and the first attempt at a terrestrial vertebrate since a prototype-era house gecko that lived in the system for over two years before proving unsuitable for multi-individual housing.
Family note: Eleutherodactylus planirostris is native to Cuba and the Bahamas and has become widely established and self-colonizing across Florida and other parts of the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. It is a direct-developing frog: eggs are laid in moist terrestrial sites and hatch directly into tiny froglets, with no free-swimming tadpole stage. This distinguishes it functionally from pond-breeding frogs such as Southern Leopard Frog and true grass frogs, whose aquatic tadpole stage can move nutrients from water to land.
Greenhouse Frog is common and self-colonizing throughout Florida, including residential yards, gardens, and greenhouses, which gives the species its common name. It was discovered directly in Josue's own backyard on August 2, 2026, without prior awareness that the species was present around the house.
Greenhouse Frog is a small terrestrial frog associated with moist leaf litter, mulch, and vegetation at ground level. It does not require standing water for reproduction, unlike most native frogs. In miniBIOTA, it was introduced to the Lakeshore, a damp shoreline gradient biome with moist substrate and dense vegetation.
Greenhouse Frog is an insectivore, feeding on small invertebrates including ants, isopods, springtails, and small roaches. The Lakeshore's documented terrestrial invertebrate community, described by Josue as including springtails, ants, isopods, and small cockroaches in substantial numbers, is the basis for expecting a continuous food supply.
Eleutherodactylus planirostris lays eggs directly in moist terrestrial sites; eggs hatch into small froglets with no free-swimming tadpole stage. This direct development means the species cannot perform an aquatic-larva-to-terrestrial nutrient-transfer function of the kind Josue is specifically seeking from a true grass frog species with an aquatic tadpole stage. No reproductive activity has been observed in miniBIOTA; the introduced group includes three likely-newborn juveniles from outside the system, not offspring produced within it.
Not formally documented for miniBIOTA. Greenhouse Frog is broadly tolerant of Florida's humid subtropical terrestrial conditions, consistent with its wide self-colonizing range.
Greenhouse Frog is intended as a small terrestrial insectivore, feeding on the Lakeshore's ant, isopod, springtail, and small-roach populations. It is also the first amphibian and the first attempted terrestrial vertebrate in miniBIOTA since a prototype-era house gecko (documented as design-context history, not a current species record) that fed on cockroaches for over two years before its single-occupancy intolerance made it unsuitable. Whether Greenhouse Frog itself becomes prey for existing terrestrial predators, or whether it can evade them, is an open watch item.
Three very small Greenhouse Frogs were discovered on the backyard porch and yard on August 2, 2026, unexpectedly, with two further adults located on a closer follow-up search the same day. The species lacks the aquatic tadpole stage Josue was hoping to find in a "grass frog" candidate, but its very small size and the Lakeshore's prey community made it worth studying regardless. The two adults entered Lakeshore that night. The three likely-newborn juveniles were held overnight with wet dead grass and released on August 3, 2026.
Two adults were introduced to Lakeshore on August 2, 2026 and three likely-newborn juveniles on August 3, 2026, all collected outside the system. Both adults were located in the August 3, 2026 survey, one in Lakeshore and one in Prairie; none of the juveniles was found that night. On August 23, 2026, two juveniles were reconfirmed in Lakeshore and appeared slightly larger, while one adult in Prairie appeared full-bodied; the third juvenile and second adult were not found that session. Nightly sightings through September 21, 2026 included at least one adult and one or two juveniles, without observed prey capture. On October 16, 2026, two frogs were located in one Prairie survey, one appearing healthy to Josue, and a smaller frog was found separately in Lakeshore and appeared larger than before. Those views did not establish age or individual continuity. Both adults were alive and well on October 19, 2026, and one small frog was consistently found at night and appeared to be growing. Survival of the other introduced juveniles, measured growth, direct prey capture and reproduction remain unknown.
Introduced specifically for its expected fit with the Lakeshore's documented terrestrial invertebrate prey base. No direct feeding observation in miniBIOTA yet.
Broadly tolerant of Florida's humid subtropical terrestrial conditions, consistent with its wide self-colonizing range across the state. Specific tolerance ranges for miniBIOTA conditions not yet measured.
No reproductive observations in miniBIOTA. The introduced group includes three likely-newborn juveniles sourced from outside the system, not offspring produced within it. Direct development means this species cannot perform the aquatic-larva-to-terrestrial nutrient-transfer role sought from a true grass frog with an aquatic tadpole stage.
First amphibian and first attempted terrestrial vertebrate in miniBIOTA since a prototype-era house gecko (design-context history, not a current species record) that fed on system cockroaches for over two years before single-occupancy intolerance made it unsuitable.
Terrestrial invertebrate predation; candidate small terrestrial vertebrate
Follow this species across the habitats where it currently appears in the miniBIOTA biosphere.
