Eleutherodactylus principalis Estrada & Hedges 1997

This species is a member of the Eleutherodactylus auriculatus group (Subgenus Eleutherodactylus). It is yellowish-green dorsally, with two narrow dorsolateral brown lines and a V-shaped mark in the sacral region. There is a suprascapular brown X-shaped mark surrounded by six brown tubercles. The flanks are yellow with a discontinuous black line. There is a black interocular bar and a black canthal stripe that extends from the snout through the orbit and forelimbs. The lips and the loreal region are yellow with black markings. The iris is golden. The venter is translucent yellowish-white in hue, while the throat is yellow and stippled with brown (males) or white (females) chromatophores. The dorsum is moderately tuberculate; the venter is extremely areolate. The vomerine teeth, behind the coanes, are in straight and short series. There is no webbing between the toes. The digital disks are developed. Adult size is small, averaging 23 mm in females and 19 mm in males (Estrada and Hedges 1997).Etymology- The name of this species alludes to Campephilus principalis, the ivory-billed woodpecker, because it was first collected during the expedition that announced the extinction of this bird in Cuba (Estrada and Hedges 1997). Related species- E. auriculatus, E. glamyrus

This species is endemic to Cuba. It is known only from the Sagua-Baracoa mountains in eastern Cuba at elevations between 300-1000 m. It is found in broadleaf forests and in pinewoods (Estrada and Hedges 1997).

These frogs principally inhabit areas of low vegetation. Males vocalize from leaves and branches of shrubs and ferns 0.8-2 m above the ground, typically in horizontal position. Calling activity is more frequent between 24:00 and 6:00 hours and before, during and after rain falls. Calls consists of a “pick” note repeated continuously (207-280 calls/minute). The dominant frequency is about 3.0-3.1 kHz (Estrada and Hedges 1997).

Eleutherodactylus principalis is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to eastern Cuba and found in the upland regions of Holguín and Guantánamo Provinces. Its natural habitats are mesic, closed forests at elevations of 300–1,000 m (980–3,280 ft) above sea level. It is an arboreal species that is moderately common within suitable habitat. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by mining and agriculture. It occurs in the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, but habitat loss is also occurring in the park.