Afrixalus delicatus

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Afrixalus delicatus
Afrixalus delicatus.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hyperoliidae
Genus: Afrixalus
Species:
A. delicatus
Binomial name
Afrixalus delicatus
Pickersgill, 1984 [2]

Afrixalus delicatus, the delicate leaf-folding frog, delicate spiny reed frog or Pickersgill's banana frog, is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in Southern and Eastern Africa, from eastern South Africa and Swaziland (not confirmed [1] ) northward through Mozambique, the low altitude parts of Malawi and Tanzania, southeastern Kenya to southern Somalia. [1] [3]

Contents

Taxonomy

Afrixalus delicatus was described in 1984 by Martin Pickersgill. [2] The account of Afrixalus delicatus in the AmphibiaWeb combines this species with Afrixalus brachycnemis , [4] although it also recognizes the latter species as a subspecies of Afrixalus stuhlmanni . [5] The Amphibian Species of the World treats A. brachycnemis as a valid species. [6] Application of these names is discussed in Poynton  [ fr ] (2007). [7]

Description

Adult males measure 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) and females 17–22 mm (0.67–0.87 in) in snout–vent length. The dorsum is light brown to gold with a brassy sheen. There are vague brown speckles over the mid-dorsum and a lateral line that is well-defined in its anterior part; these vary in colouration from reddish brown to nearly black, depending probably on temperature, light and humidity. The tibia is yellow and has an oblique transverse stripe. The venter is white. The gular disc is orange-yellow and the hidden areas of limbs are yellowish. Most parts of the body are covered by tiny asperities. [2]

The male advertisement call is a high-pitched rattle composed of a number of distinct, separate clicks, or in the second call type, an intense, high-pitched buzz-like "zick" on a rising note; it is the latter that appears to be the mating call. [2]

Habitat and conservation

Afrixalus delicatus inhabit coastal bush land, savanna, shrubland, grassland, forest, thicket and modified habitats at elevations up to 500 m (1,600 ft) above sea level. Breeding takes place in emergent vegetation, usually at the edges of relatively permanent water bodies. They favour plants with long leaves, suitable for being folded to make leaf nests over water. [1] During the day they may hide in leaf axils of rum lilies of the genus Zantedeschia . [2]

Afrixalus delicatus is common in the northern part of its range, where very large breeding aggregations are found. It is uncommon in extreme south where it has declined, although it may have been overlooked. In the southern part of its range it is threatened by drying up breeding sites, caused by sugar cane farming, urbanization, and the spread of eucalyptus. Chemical mosquito control may threaten some populations. It is present in many protected areas. [1]

Related Research Articles

The golden banana frog, golden dwarf reed frog, golden spiny reed frog, or golden leaf-folding frog is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in lowland coastal plains of eastern South Africa, Swaziland, and southern Mozambique. The AmphibiaWeb includes Afrixalus crotalus in this species as a subspecies, whereas the Amphibian Species of the World and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species treat A. crotalus as a full species.

<i>Afrixalus</i> Genus of amphibians

Afrixalus, commonly known as the banana frogs, spiny reed frogs, cat's eye reed frogs, or leaf-folding frogs, is a genus of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. They occur in the Subsaharan Africa. They lay their eggs in vegetation above water, often folding leaves around the eggs for protection—hence the common name "leaf-folding frogs".

Lesser banana frog Species of amphibian

The lesser banana frog is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae.

Afrixalus crotalus is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in southern Malawi, central Mozambique, and eastern Zimbabwe. It might be a subspecies of Afrixalus aureus, a position adopted by the AmphibiaWeb. It is sometimes known as the Zimbabwe banana frog or snoring spiny reed frog.

Afrixalus equatorialis, also known as the Congo banana frog, is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in the central parts of the Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and southeastern Cameroon, and is likely to be found in the Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic too. It might be conspecific with Afrixalus nigeriensis and is closely related to Afrixalus leucostictus.

Afrixalus lacteus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to Cameroon and known from a few mountains in the western part of the country; specifically, it has been recorded from Mount Manengouba, Mount Nlonaka, and the southern Bamileke Highlands. Common name Cameroon banana frog has been coined for it. Prior to its description, it was confused with Afrixalus lindholmi.

Afrixalus laevis is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in southern Cameroon, northern Gabon, Bioko, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and southwestern Uganda. Its range may extend to the neighboring countries. Common names smooth spiny reed frog and Liberia banana frog have been coined for it.

Afrixalus leucostictus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to eastern and central Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its relationship with Afrixalus equatorialis is not fully understood. Common names Makese banana frog and speckled spiny reed frog have been proposed for it.

Afrixalus lindholmi is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to Cameroon and only known from the holotype collected in Bibundi, in the coastal area of Mount Cameroon. Its taxonomic validity is in question.

<i>Afrixalus morerei</i> Species of frog

Afrixalus morerei is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania. It was originally described as a subspecies of Afrixalus septentrionalis, but is currently recognized as a full species. The specific name morerei honours Jean-Jacques Morère, a French herpetologist from the National Museum of Natural History, Paris. Its common names are Morère's spiny reed frog, Dabaga's leaf-folding frog, and Morere's banana frog.

Afrixalus orophilus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, and southwestern Uganda. Common names Kivu banana frog, montane spiny reed frog, and two-lined leaf-gluing frog has been coined for it.

Afrixalus osorioi is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, western Kenya, and Uganda. The specific name osorioi honours Balthazar Osório, a Portuguese ichthyologist. Its common names include Angola banana frog, Osorio's spiny reed frog, Congro spiny reed frog, and forest tree frog.

Afrixalus uluguruensis is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. Its common name is Uluguru banana frog. It is endemic to the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and known from the Kipengere Range, Mahenge, Udzungwa Scarp, Rubeho, North Uluguru, Nguru, Ukaguru, and Nguu Mountains.

Afrixalus upembae is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is known from the lower Katanga Province, although its true distribution might be wider; possibly reaching eastern Angola. It belongs to the taxonomically unresolved "Afrixalus quadrivittatus complex", and it is not even clear that it is a valid species.

Afrixalus vibekensis, sometimes known as the Nimba banana frog, is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is confirmed to exist in two locations in Côte d'Ivoire and one in Ghana, and it possibly occurs in Guinea and Liberia. It was originally described as subspecies of Afrixalus laevis. The type locality is in Côte d'Ivoire near Mount Nimba.

Afrixalus weidholzi is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. Its common name is Weidholz's banana frog or Weidholz's leaf-folding frog.

Hyperolius camerunensis is a species of reed frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to western and southwestern Cameroon.

<i>Hyperolius minutissimus</i> Species of frog

Hyperolius minutissimus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. Its common names are tiny reed frog and dwarf reed frog. It is endemic to Tanzania and known from the Udzungwa Mountains and from near Njombe in the Southern Highlands.

Hyperolius pseudargus, also known as the Mette's reed frog, is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to south-central Tanzania and occurs in the Udzungwa Mountains and south to Njombe in the Southern Highlands. Male Hyperolius pseudargus greatly resemble Hyperolius argus but have less webbing between the toes and the male advertisement call is different. The vernacular name refers to Mette Westergaard, Danish biologist who collected the holotype and is the junior describer of this species.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Afrixalus delicatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T56059A3034176. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T56059A3034176.en . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Pickersgill, Martin (1984). "Three new Afrixalus (Anura: Hyperoliidae) from South-Eastern Africa". Durban Museum Novitates. 13 (17): 203–220.
  3. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Afrixalus delicatus Pickersgill, 1984". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Afrixalus delicatus Delicate Spiny Reed Frog". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "Afrixalus stuhlmanni". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  6. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Afrixalus brachycnemis (Boulenger, 1896)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  7. ↑ Poynton, John (2007) [2006]. "On dwarf spiny reedfrogs in Tanzanian eastern lowlands (Anura: Afrixalus)". African Journal of Herpetology. 55 (2): 167–169. doi:10.1080/21564574.2006.9635548.
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