Afrixalus fornasini

Last updated

Afrixalus fornasini
Afrixalus fornasini.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hyperoliidae
Genus: Afrixalus
Species:
A. fornasini
Binomial name
Afrixalus fornasini
(Bianconi, 1849)

Afrixalus fornasini is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae and is native to Africa. Its common name is Fornasini's spiny reed frog [2] or the greater leaf-folding frog [3]

Contents

The specific epithet fornasini is in honour of Italian amateur naturalist Carlo Antonio Fornasini, who collected the type specimen. [4]

Distribution and habitat

It is found in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa and possibly Eswatini. Its natural habitats are temperate forest, subtropical or tropical dry forest, dry savanna, moist savanna, temperate shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, temperate grassland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, water storage areas, and ponds.

Conservation status

The species is threatened in some parts of its range by habitat loss, but in general it is not very rare, and in some places common. [1]

Diet

Both male and female Afrixalus fornasinii adults prey on grey foam-nest tree frog eggs and tadpoles. This species is the first African anuran to demonstrate hetero-cannibalism by preying on eggs belonging to the same family. [5]

Evidence for natural selection

The camouflage mechanism used by the species provided compelling [6] evidence for evolution by natural selection. The zoologist Hugh Cott's drawings and description of the frog's "coincident disruptive coloration" showed that its pattern, forming bold stripes on the legs and body, lined up (coincided) exactly when the legs were tightly folded into the body at rest, effectively disrupting its outline. The zoologists I. C. Cuthill and A. Székely noted that the way the configuration works indicates that it must have survival value, implying natural selection at work. [6]

Notes

  1. 1 2 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Afrixalus fornasini". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T56063A3034378. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T56063A3034378.en . Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. AmphibiaWeb
  3. Carruthers, V. (2001). First Field Guide to Frogs of Southern Africa. ISBN   978-1-86872-595-3.
  4. Bianconi, G. Giuseppe (26 April 1849). "Alcune nuove specie di rettili del Mozambico". Nuovi Annali delle Scienze Naturali. 2 (in Italian). 10. Bologna: 106.
  5. Drewes, R. C.; Altig, R. (1996-11-01). "Anuran egg predation and heterocannibalism in a breeding community of East African frogs". Tropical Zoology. 9 (2): 333–347. Bibcode:1996TrZoo...9..333D. doi:10.1080/03946975.1996.10539316. ISSN   0394-6975.
  6. 1 2 Cuthill, I. C.; Székely, A. (2011). Stevens, Martin; Merilaita, Sami (eds.). Animal Camouflage: Mechanisms and Function. Cambridge University Press. p. 50. ISBN   978-1-139-49623-0.


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guttural toad</span> Species of amphibian

The African common toad or guttural toad is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Réunion, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, dry savanna, moist savanna, temperate shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, intermittent rivers, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, pastureland, rural gardens, urban areas, heavily degraded former forest, ponds, and canals and ditches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African red toad</span> Species of amphibian

The African red toad, or African split-skin toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is the only species of the monotypic genus Schismaderma. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Lesotho. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, pastureland, urban areas, water storage areas, ponds, canals and ditches, and man-made karsts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lutz's poison frog</span> Species of amphibian

Lutz's poison frog is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae found in Bolivia and Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, rivers, intermittent freshwater marshes, and rocky areas. Reproduction occurs in rocky pools and streams. Eggs are laid under a rock and the male transports tadpoles to wet trenches or small rocky pools. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Scinax nasicus</i> Species of frog

Scinax nasicus is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, moist savanna, temperate shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, temperate grassland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forest, water storage areas, ponds, and canals and ditches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown banana frog</span> Species of amphibian

The brown banana frog, also known as the striped spiny reed frog, is an anuran in the family Hyperoliidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natal banana frog</span> Species of amphibian

The Natal banana frog also known as the Natal Leaf-folding Frog is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in South Africa and possibly Lesotho. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, swamps, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, rural gardens, ponds, and canals and ditches. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Phlyctimantis maculatus</i> Species of amphibian

Phlyctimantis maculatus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. They are silvery greyish-brown with dark brown to black spots, and derive their name from bright red coloring on the ventral side of their hind legs. Adult body length is typically 6 to 7.5 centimeters. These frogs have vertical pupils. Common names include red-legged running frog, brown-spotted tree frog, red-legged Kassina, red-legged pan frog, spotted running frog, tiger leg running frog, and vlei frog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mozambique rain frog</span> Species of amphibian

The Mozambique rain frog, also known as the flat-faced frog, is a species of frog in the family Brevicipitidae. It is found in Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Lesotho. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, temperate shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, temperate grassland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, arable land, pasture land and rural gardens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banded rubber frog</span> Species of amphibian

The banded rubber frog is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is found in central and southern Africa. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, intermittent freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, pastureland, water storage areas, ponds, and canals and ditches. The female can reach a maximum size of 65 mm whereas the tadpoles can reach a size of 37 mm. The maximum size of the male is yet unknown, but sizes differ from 45 mm to 68 mm.

<i>Phrynomantis microps</i> Species of amphibian

Phrynomantis microps is an African frog with many interesting adaptations to the savannah. These frogs are also called the Accra snake-necked frog. They are found across Western and Central Africa. One of its distinguishing features is the peptide secretion on its skin, which goes beyond toxicity and seems to inhibit aggressive behavior like biting and stinging from large ants. This allows Phrynomantis microps to live in humid burrows within large ant nests and termite mounds, where they are frequently found. While Phrynomantis microps feeds on similar insects such as the termite Macrotermes bellicosus, they have never been found to feed on the ants they share the nest with. These frogs are medium-sized and have a bright red pelvic region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natal dwarf puddle frog</span> Species of amphibian

The Natal dwarf puddle frog is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burkina Faso, Chad, Lesotho, and Mauritania.

The Eritrea clawed frog or Peracca's clawed frog is a species of frog in the family Pipidae found in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, rivers, swamps, freshwater lakes, and freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Müller's platanna</span> Species of frog

Müller's platanna, also known as Müller's clawed frog, is a species of frog in the family Pipidae found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angola river frog</span> Species of amphibian

The Angola river frog, or common river frog, is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. Formerly, it was placed in the family Ranidae.

<i>Cornufer pelewensis</i> Species of amphibian

Cornufer pelewensis, commonly known as Palau frog or Palau wrinkled ground frog, is a species of frog in the family Ceratobatrachidae. It is endemic to Palau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anchieta's ridged frog</span> Species of frog

Anchieta's ridged frog or plain grass frog is a species of frog in the family Ptychadenidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, possibly Burundi, and possibly Rwanda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, hot deserts, arable land, rural gardens, urban areas, and ponds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mascarene grass frog</span> Species of frog

The Mascarene grass frog, or Mascarene ridged frog, is a species of frog in the family Ptychadenidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and Mauritius.

Ptychadena porosissima is a species of frog in the family Ptychadenidae. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, possibly Burundi, possibly Lesotho, and possibly Mozambique. Its natural habitats are temperate forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, temperate grassland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, swamps, intermittent freshwater marshes, pastureland, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natal sand frog</span> Species of amphibian

The Natal sand frog is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is found in Mozambique, South Africa, and Eswatini, and possibly Botswana, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, temperate grassland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, pastureland, and ponds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey foam-nest tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

The grey foam-nest tree frog, or southern foam-nest tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. They are found in southern Africa.