Andrew Gray is a British zoologist, teacher and conservationist. [1]
Andrew Gray is a British zoologist, teacher and conservationist. [1]
Andrew Gray was appointed Curator of Herpetology at Manchester Museum in September 1995. Here he established ‘The Vivarium’, a free to the public purpose-built facility dedicated to the conservation of tropical amphibians. [2] Gray's interest in amphibians and reptiles began from a very early age. [3] During his career as a professional herpetologist he has discovered new species [4] and established conservation initiatives to save some of the rarest frogs in the world, [5] for example the critically endangered lemur leaf frog. [6] Gray is an authority on frogs of the Phyllomedusinae genus Cruziohyla . [7] He described the tadpole of Cruziohyla calcarifer [8] and in 2018 described the new species Cruziohyla sylviae [9] which is named after his first grandchild Sylvia Beatrice Gray. [10]
Gray's conservation efforts have mainly focused in Central America, where he has initiated multi-disciplined collaborative projects, [11] developed international environmental education programmes, [12] and jointly established student field courses for the University of Manchester. [13] In 2006 Gray was a main scientific adviser for the BBC's landmark series Planet Earth and worked further with Sir David Attenborough on the BBC Natural World's programme Fabulous Frogs. [14] Apart from wildlife conservation, Gray also has an keen interest in conserving English heritage and in 2004 completely restored the then derelict Euxton Hall Chapel, which was designed by E. W. Pugin in 1866. [15]
Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians and reptiles. Birds, which are cladistically included within Reptilia, are traditionally excluded here; the scientific study of birds is the subject of ornithology.
Hylidae is a wide-ranging family of frogs commonly referred to as "tree frogs and their allies". However, the hylids include a diversity of frog species, many of which do not live in trees, but are terrestrial or semiaquatic.
Pseudis is a genus of South American frogs in the family Hylidae. They are often common and frequently heard, but easily overlooked because of their camouflage and lifestyle, living in lakes, ponds, marshes and similar waters with extensive aquatic vegetation, often sitting at the surface among plants or on floating plants, but rapidly diving if disturbed. Whereas the adults are medium-sized frogs, their tadpoles are large; in some species the world's longest.
The banded bullfrog is a species of frog in the narrow-mouthed frog family Microhylidae. Native to Southeast Asia, it is also known as the Asian painted frog, digging frog, Malaysian bullfrog, common Asian frog, and painted balloon frog. In the pet trade, it is sometimes called the chubby frog. Adults measure 5.4 to 7.5 cm and have a dark brown back with stripes that vary from copper-brown to salmon pink.
Phrynomedusa is a genus of tree frogs from the Southeast and South regions in Brazil. They were formerly considered to be part of the genus Phyllomedusa, as the "Phyllomedusa fimbriata group". Common names colored leaf frogs and monkey frogs have been coined for them.
Cruziohyla is a genus of frogs in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. They occur from Nicaragua and Honduras in Central America south to the Amazon Basin in South America. This genus was erected in 2005 following a major revision of the Hylidae and fully reviewed in 2018. Species in this genus were previously placed in the genera Agalychnis or Phyllomedusa.
The yellow-throated frog, Trinidadian stream frog, or Trinidad poison frog is a diurnal species of frog in the family Aromobatidae that is endemic to the island of Trinidad in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad poison frogs can be found in rocky streams in moist montane forests. The species has cryptic coloration and is sexually dimorphic. Mannophryne venezuelensis from the Paria Peninsula in Venezuela were also formerly included in this species. Currently this species is listed as of "Least Concern" on IUCN, but there is a general lack of understanding of its distribution. The frog experiences habitat loss. Both sexes are territorial and provide parental care together.
Triprion spinosus, also known as the spiny-headed tree frog, spiny-headed treefrog, spinyhead treefrog, coronated treefrog, and crowned hyla, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It has a spotty distribution in Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and southern Mexico. Previously in its own monotypic genus Anotheca Smith, 1939, it was transferred to the genus Triprion in 2018.
Cruziohyla craspedopus, the fringed leaf frog or fringed tree frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. It is found in the Amazonian lowlands in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, and possibly in Bolivia.
Agalychnis lemur, the lemur leaf frog or lemur frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, and adjacent northwestern Colombia. It is classed as Critically Endangered and threatened by the fungal disease chytridiomycosis.
Phrynomedusa vanzolinii, or Vanzolini's leaf frog, is a frog in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. It is endemic to southeastern Brazil where it is currently known from Teresópolis in the state of Rio de Janeiro and Boraceia in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. It probably occurs more widely than current records suggest, especially in areas between the two known sites. It is possible that this species is a synonym of Phrynomedusa appendiculata.
Pithecopus ayeaye, also known as the reticulated leaf frog and reticulate leaf frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. It is endemic to Brazil. P. ayeaye is found in the transition zone between cerrado and Atlantic semi-deciduous forest, laying its eggs on leaves above streams or pools so the tadpoles, when hatched, fall into the water below. This species is under threat from habitat loss resulting from mining activity and fires, and is also affected by pollution from mining and pesticides. Its restricted range is likely to make it particularly vulnerable to these threats.
Phyllomedusa trinitatis, known as the leaf-nesting frog, Trinidadian leaf frog, or Trinidadian monkey frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. It is found in Venezuela and the island of Trinidad.
Lithodytes is a genus of frogs in the family of Leptodactylidae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species, Lithodytes lineatus, also commonly known as the gold-striped frog or painted antnest frog. It is found in tropical South America where it lives in humid forests among the leaf litter. These frogs build foam nests at the edge of temporary pools, and the tadpoles develop within these. The frogs also associate with certain leafcutter ants and breed inside their nests without being attacked by the ants.
Buergeria is a genus of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae, and the sole genus of subfamily Buergeriinae. They are the sister taxon for all the other rhacophorids. The available firmly supports this position.
Cruziohyla calcarifer, the splendid leaf frog or splendid treefrog, is a species of tree frog of the subfamily Phyllomedusinae described in 1902 by George Albert Boulenger. It has a distribution from Esmeraldas Province in northwestern Ecuador, through western Colombia and Panama to the most southerly part of Costa Rica. It is a nocturnal, arboreal frog inhabiting primary humid lowland forest. The tadpole of this species was described in 2021
Craugastoridae, commonly known as fleshbelly frogs, is a family of New World direct-developing frogs. As delineated here, following the Amphibian Species of the World, it contains 129 species. They are found from the southern United States southwards to Central and South America.
Cruziohyla sylviae, also known as Sylvia's tree frog, is a large colourful species of tree frog from Central America.
Gosner stage is a generalized system of describing stages of embryonal and larval development in anurans. The Gosner system includes 46 numbered stages, from fertilized embryo to the completion of metamorphosis. It was introduced by Kenneth Gosner in 1960. The system is widely used in herpetology to describe exotrophic tadpoles. Gosner stages are based on certain morphological landmarks that allow comparing development in different species that may greatly differ in age or size.