Arthroleptella rugosa | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Family: | Pyxicephalidae |
Genus: | Arthroleptella |
Species: | A. rugosa |
Binomial name | |
Arthroleptella rugosa Turner and Channing, 2008 [2] | |
Arthroleptella rugosa is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is endemic to South Africa and only known from the Klein Swartberg Mountain, [1] [3] an inselberg near Caledon, Western Cape. [2] The specific name rugosa is Latin for wrinkled or rough and refers to the rough appearance of this species (caused by distinct glandular tubercles ) as well as its rough sounding advertisement call. Accordingly, the common name rough moss frog has been suggested for it. [2]
Arthroleptella rugosa are small frogs. Males in the type series measured 11.9–14.1 mm (0.47–0.56 in) and the single female 15.5 mm (0.61 in) in snout–vent length. There are a large number of very distinct glandular protuberances on the dorsal surfaces, distinct from all other Arthroleptella species. The limbs are relatively short. Adults are uniform dark chocolate brown in colour, with slightly paler, irregular dorsolateral bands that may become visible under bright lighting conditions. The sole female was densely speckled dark and light grey. [2]
The typical male advertisement call is a "chirp", a short pulsed call of two to four pulses. The second type is a "chuckle" composed of 6–10 pulsed notes, making rough, squeaky sounding chirp that is quite different from the calls in other Arthroleptella species. The chuckle may precede the typical chirp call or an aggression call. [2]
A single clutch of seven eggs has been observed. The tadpoles do not swim; instead they remain almost sedentary on a moist substrate until metamorphosing approximately 3 weeks after hatching. The tadpoles do not have a functional mouth. [2]
Arthroleptella rugosa inhabit fynbos heathland vegetation and can be found in dense Restionaceae stands very near seepages [1] [2] at elevations of 500–800 m (1,600–2,600 ft) above sea level. [1]
The habitat is under severe threat from fire and invasive plant species. In addition, the species has very small extent of occurrence (searches on neighbouring mountains have not revealed any specimens [2] ), and has therefore been assessed as "Critically Endangered". [1]
Hyperolius microps is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is known with some certainty from northern Malawi, extreme northern Mozambique, Tanzania, and coastal Kenya; presumably its range extends into adjacent Zambia. However, its range and delimitation differs widely between sources.
The Bainskloof moss frog or Bainskloof chirping frog is a species of frogs in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is endemic to South Africa.
Arthroleptella is a genus of frogs known as moss frogs in the family Pyxicephalidae. The ten species of this genus are endemic to South Africa.
The Drewes' moss frog is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is endemic to Fernkloof Nature Reserve & nearby surroundings in South Africa. Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Hewitt's moss frog, also known as Natal chirping frog or yellow bandit frog, is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is found in the Drakensberg mountains of South Africa, possibly including adjacent Lesotho.
The Landdros moss frog is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae.
Lightfoot's moss frog or the Cape Peninsula moss frog is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is endemic to South Africa. Its natural habitats are temperate forest, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Anhydrophryne ngongoniensis, the Ngongoni moss frog, Natal bandit frog, or mistbelt chirping frog, is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is endemic to South Africa.
Arthroleptella subvoce is a species of frogs in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is endemic to South Africa and only known from the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area, Western Cape. Common name northern moss frog has been coined for it. The specific name subvoce is Latin for "under voice" and refers to the very subdued male advertisement call of this frog.
Poyntonia, is a monotypic frog genus in the family Pyxicephalidae. It was named after J.C. Poynton, a notable herpetologist who worked in southern Africa.
Amietia delalandii, also known as the Delalande's river frog, the Drakensberg frog, Drakensberg river frog, or Sani Pass frog, is a species of southern African river frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is found in Lesotho, South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and possibly Zambia. It is the sister species to A. vertebralis.
Amietia ruwenzorica is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is found in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and western Uganda, including the eponymous Rwenzori Mountains on the Uganda/DRC border as well as Kabobo Plateau and Itombwe Mountains in DRC.
Amietia vandijki, also known as Van Dijk's river frog, is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is endemic to South Africa.
Amietia vertebralis, also known as Maluti river frog, aquatic river frog, ice frog, large-mouthed frog, or water frog, is a species of frogs in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is an aquatic high-altitude species found in Lesotho and neighbouring South Africa.
The banded stream frog, also known as the banded sand frog, Cape grass frog, Cape stream frog, long-toed frog, mountain frog or Jonkersberg frog is a species of frogs in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is endemic to South Africa.
Fuelleborn's stream frog or long-toed grass frog is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is found in the mountains of Malawi, Tanzania, and northeastern Zambia. Its natural habitats are montane grasslands at elevations of 1,500–3,000 m (4,900–9,800 ft) above sea level. Outside the breeding season, it can be found far from water. During the breeding season, males call from flooded grass. The egg clusters are laid just above streams, underneath dense vegetation. Tadpoles develop in the streams.
Amietia hymenopus is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is found in the Drakensberg Mountains and Lesotho Highlands in northeastern Lesotho and adjacent South Africa. This species has many common names: Phofung river frog, Berg stream frog, Drakensberg river frog, Natal Drakensberg frog, Drakensberg frog, and Drakensberg rana.
Tandy's sand frog is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is found in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and south-western Angola, and from inland Tanzania and Kenya. It probably occurs more widely within and between these two disjunct areas. The specific name tandyi honours Robert Mills Tandy, an American biologist, herpetologist, and photographer and the collector of the type material.
Amietia desaegeri is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is found west and south of the Rwenzori Mountains in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and northwestern Rwanda. Common names Byangolo frog and De Saeger's river frog have been coined for it.