Physiological basis of habitat partitioning in Jamaican Eleutherodactylus.

Rate of evaporation, resistance to drying, temperature selection, and critical thermal maximum were measured for Jamaican Eleutherodactylus acclimated to 20° C and a 12:12 L:D photoperiod. Two introduced species, E. planirostris and E. johnstonei, selected higher temperatures and had higher CTMs than two native species, E. cundalli and E. gossei. The introduced species lost water as rapidly as the native species, but tolerated 30-73% greater water loss before losing their righting response. The physiological differences are reflected in the microhabitat selection and activity patterns of the four species.