Arthroleptis francei

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Arthroleptis francei
Arthroleptis francei (10.3897-zse.92.9948) Figure 3 (cropped).jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Arthroleptidae
Genus: Arthroleptis
Species:
A. francei
Binomial name
Arthroleptis francei
Loveridge, 1953 [2]
Synonyms [2]

Arthroleptis adolfifriederici franceiLoveridge, 1953 [3]

Contents

Arthroleptis francei is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in Mount Mulanje in southern Malawi and in Mount Namuli and Mount Mabu in northern Mozambique. Records from the Zomba Massif (Malawi) require confirmation. [1] [2] Common names Ruo River screeching frog and France's squeaker have been coined for it. [2]

Etymology

The specific name francei honours Mr. F. H. France, young forestry officer who perished in trying to cross the Ruo River close to the type locality of this species. Arthur Loveridge named the species after France so that "his name may be linked with the forests he sought to preserve on the mountain he loved so well." [3]

Description

Males measure 25–30 mm (0.98–1.18 in) and females 29–43 mm (1.1–1.7 in) in snout–vent length. [4] Loveridge reports slightly larger sizes for the same specimens, with maximum sizes of 32 and 46 mm (1.3 and 1.8 in) for males and females, respectively. The head is not wider than body. The tympanum is distinct and about half the diameter of the eye. The fingers and toes do not have webbing but their tips are swollen (only slightly so for the fingers). The dorsal colouration is dark brownish red. A deep black band edged with lighter above runs from the nostril, above the eye, and down to the forearm base. There is also a crossbar running between the eyes. There are also dusky markings (marbling) on the back, flanks, limbs and around anus. [3]

Habitat and conservation

The species occurs in montane forest, including high-altitude cedar forests and pine plantations. It can also occur in the grassland adjacent the wooded areas, but this is considered a marginal habitat. Its elevational range is 700–2,500 m (2,300–8,200 ft) above sea level It lives in leaf litter but can also climb trees. [1]

Threats to this species include logging, plantation of pines, spread of small-scale subsistence farming, and use of fire to manage grasslands. Part of the range receives some protection from the Mount Mulanje Biosphere Reserve. [1]

Related Research Articles

Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve

Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve is a nature reserve founded in 1927 in Malawi. The reserve covers 56,317 hectares. It is operated by the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust. The reserve was designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2000.

Arthroleptis adolfifriederici is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda. Several common names have been coined for it, including Rugege Forest squeaker, Rugegewald squeaker, Adolf Friedrich's squeaker frog, and Adolf's squeaker.

Arthroleptis nikeae, also known as Nike's squeaker, is a species of frogs in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to the Mafwemiro Reserve in the Rubeho Mountains of Tanzania. It was named after conservationist Nike Doggart, who first found it. With a maximum snout–vent length of 57 mm (2.2 in), it is among the largest Arthroleptis species.

Arthroleptis reichei is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the mountains of eastern and southern Tanzania and northern Malawi. It has several vernacular names: Poroto screeching frog, large-toad squeaker, Poroto Mountains screeching frog, and Reiche's squeaker. The specific name reichei honours Karl Friedrich Reiche, a German botanist.

Arthroleptis schubotzi, also known as the Burundi screeching frog, Schubotz's squeaker, and Kivu dwarf litter frog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the African Rift Valley in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kivu), southwestern Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and western Uganda. There are taxonomic problems in delimiting this species.

Arthroleptis tanneri, the Tanzania screeching frog or Tanner's squeaker, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to the West Usambara Mountains in northeastern Tanzania; previous records from elsewhere refer to other species.

The cave squeaker is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to the Chimanimani Mountains in Zimbabwe.

Arthroleptis vercammeni, also known as the Mwana screeching frog or Vercammen's squeaker, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and is only known from its type locality at Mwana in Mwenga Territory, South Kivu province. The specific name vercammeni honours Paul-Henry Vercammen-Grandjean, entomologist and virologist from France/Belgium.

Arthroleptis xenodactyloides, also known as the dwarf squeaker or Chirinda screeching frog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in eastern highlands of Zimbabwe and Malawi, central Mozambique, and eastern Zambia northwards to northeastern Tanzania and the Taita Hills of Kenya; it probably occurs in adjacent Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitats are lowland and montane forests, dense woodlands, grasslands, and swamps. It is locally threatened by habitat loss.

Arthroleptis aureoli, also known as the Freetown long-fingered frog or Mount Aureol squeaker, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the Freetown Peninsula, Sierra Leone, and in northern Sierra Leone and into the adjacent Guinea.

<i>Cardioglossa oreas</i> Species of frog

Cardioglossa oreas is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Cameroon and known from the Western High Plateau between Mount Oku and the Bamboutos Mountains. Records from Mount Manengouba refer to Cardioglossa manengouba.

Cardioglossa schioetzi is a species of frogs in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the mountains of Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. Specifically, it has been recorded from the Oshie-Obudu Range, Gotel Mountains, Mount Oku, and Mount Mbam. It is a generally poorly known species.

<i>Arthroleptis xenochirus</i> Species of frog

The plain squeaker or Marimba screeching frog is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Zambia, and possibly in the adjacent Tanzania. Its natural habitats are open grassland near streams, and forest patches. It can also occur on the edge of plantations and in rural gardens. It is very common frog in suitable habitats, and there are no significant threats to this adaptable species.

Leptopelis bequaerti is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Liberia and only known from its type locality, Gbarnga, and from Mount Coffee. Common name Gbanga forest treefrog has been coined for it. It is a poorly known species with uncertain taxonomic validity.

Nothophryne broadleyi is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae found on Mount Mulanje (Malawi). It was monotypic within the genus Nothophryne until four new species were described in 2018.

<i>Phrynobatrachus bequaerti</i> Species of frog

Phrynobatrachus bequaerti is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is found in the mountains of north-western Burundi, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and western Rwanda. The specific name bequaerti honours Joseph Charles Bequaert, a Belgian botanist, entomologist, and malacologist and who collected the holotype from Mount Vissoke. Common name Vissoke river frog has been coined for this species.

Phrynobatrachus rungwensis is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is found in southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, central and northern Malawi, and east to southern and central Tanzania. It is also expected to occur in northeastern Zambia. Common names Rungwe puddle frog and Rungwe river frog have been coined for it. It is named after Mount Rungwe, its type locality.

Phrynobatrachus ukingensis is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is recorded in several places in southern and eastern Tanzania and in northern and southern Malawi ; it probably occurs more widely, at least in areas in between the known localities. Common names Ukinga puddle frog and Ukinga river frog have been coined for it.

Ruo River

Ruo River is the largest tributary of the Shire River in southern Malawi and Mozambique. It originates from the Mulanje Massif (Malawi) and forms 80 km (50 mi) of the Malawi-Mozambique border. It joins the Shire River at Chiromo.

Arthroleptis kutogundua, also known as the overlooked squeaker frog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It has not been seen since 1930, and is believed to be possibly extinct.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group.; South African Frog Re-assessment Group; et al. (SA-FRoG) (2016). "Arthroleptis francei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T54371A77165298. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T54371A77165298.en . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Arthroleptis francei Loveridge, 1953". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Loveridge, A. (1953). "Zoological results of a fifth expedition to East Africa. IV. Amphibians from Nyasaland and Tete". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 110: 325–406.
  4. ↑ Blackburn, David C. (2012). "New species of Arthroleptis (Anura: Arthroleptidae) from Ngozi Crater in the Poroto Mountains of southwestern Tanzania". Journal of Herpetology. 46 (1): 129–135. doi:10.1670/10-322. S2CID   83826878.
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