Boophis

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Bright-eyed frogs
Boophis ankaratra02.jpg
Boophis ankaratra
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Mantellidae
Subfamily: Boophinae
Vences & Glaw, 2001
Genus: Boophis
Tschudi, 1838
Type species
Boophis goudotii
Tschudi, 1838
Synonyms
  • BuccinatorGistel, 1848
Juvenile Boophis cf. roseipalmatus
Montagne d'Ambre Bright-eyed frog (Boophis sp. aff. picturatus) Montagne d'Ambre.jpg
Juvenile Boophis cf. roseipalmatus
Montagne d'Ambre
Boophis entingae from Montagne d'Ambre, photographed in 2017 Boophis entingae.jpg
Boophis entingae from Montagne d'Ambre, photographed in 2017

Boophis is the only genus in the mantellid frog subfamily Boophinae. They are commonly known as bright-eyed or skeleton frogs. They show typical 'tree frog' traits, and are a good example of convergent evolution with morphologically similar species in the families Hylidae and Rhacophoridae, among others. This genus can only be found on Madagascar and Mayotte Island (Comoros). [1]

Contents

Taxonomy

The genus Boophis was described by Johann Jakob von Tschudi in 1838. [2] It was originally considered a member of the African-Asian family Rhacophoridae, but was moved to the family Mantellidae in 2001, [3] into its own subfamily, Boophinae Vences & Glaw, 2001.

Morphology

Boophis are arboreal frogs, exhibiting many traits that define 'tree frogs', such as expanded toe discs, long hindlimbs, and large eyes. [1] Boophis are especially characterised by bright colouration of the iris, which is typically intricately patterned towards its inside, and often green or blue, but occasionally also red, purple, or yellow in the outer iris area. [1] This has led to the vernacular name of bright-eyed frogs for the genus. Many species of Boophis have almost translucent skin, allowing bones and internal organs to be observed as in the unrelated glass frogs (Centrolenidae) of the tropical Americas. [4] This has led to the vernacular name skeleton frogs for some members of the genus.

Species

The genus has nearly 80 species; new ones are being described every few months on average. This list may not be exhaustive.

Boophis occidentalis tadpole Boophis occidentalis03.jpg
Boophis occidentalis tadpole

Nota bene : A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than boophis.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mantellidae</span> Family of amphibians

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cophylinae</span> Subfamily of amphibians

Cophylinae is a subfamily of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. It has over 100 species in eight genera. Members of this subfamily range from minute to fairly large, and they are highly ecologically diverse. DNA barcode research has revealed a significant taxonomic gap in this subfamily, and an estimated 70+ candidate species were identified. Many of these have subsequently been described, as well as numerous new discoveries.

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<i>Stumpffia</i> Genus of amphibians

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<i>Mantidactylus</i> Genus of amphibians

Mantidactylus is a frog genus in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. This genus is restricted to Madagascar. The genus is divided into several subgenera that form monophyletic genetic clusters and are ecologically similar.

<i>Aglyptodactylus</i> Genus of amphibians

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<i>Spinomantis aglavei</i> Species of frog

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<i>Spinomantis peraccae</i> Species of frog

Spinomantis peraccae is a species of frog in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. It is endemic to Madagascar and widely distributed in the northern, eastern, and central parts of the island. The specific epithet honours Italian herpetologist Mario Giacinto Peracca. Common name Peracca's Madagascar frog has been coined for it.

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Rhombophryne is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. It is currently estimated to include more than 23 species, but only 20 of these are currently described. The common name 'diamond frog' has been proposed and used for members of this genus.

<i>Gephyromantis</i> Genus of amphibians

Gephyromantis is a frog genus in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. This genus is restricted to Madagascar. At present it contains 45 species divided into six subgenera.

<i>Guibemantis</i> Genus of amphibians

Guibemantis is a frog genus in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. This genus is restricted to Madagascar. At present it contains 25 species divided into two subgenera.

<i>Plethodontohyla alluaudi</i> Species of amphibian

Plethodontohyla alluaudi is a frog belonging to the Madagascar-endemic subfamily Cophylinae of the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to southeastern Madagascar. It is a terrestrial and fossorial frog that occurs in rainforest, including littoral forest. Despite being locally abundant, it is a difficult frog to find.

<i>Spinomantis bertini</i> Species of frog

Spinomantis bertini is a species of frog in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae, endemic to Madagascar.

<i>Boophis popi</i> Species of amphibian

Boophis popi is a nocturnal species of skeleton frog endemic to the forests of Madagascar. It is characterized by its red irises and distinctly elevated reticulations on the dorsum. It is brown and gray, has slender limbs, a pulsating call, and is slightly larger than similar frogs in its genus. The species was described in 2011 and is named after the company "pop-interactive GmbH".

<i>Boophis fayi</i> Species of amphibian

Boophis fayi is a nocturnal species of skeleton frog endemic to the forests and wetlands or Madagascar with unusual greenish eyes. It is considered to be vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Boophis haingana is an endangered species of skeleton frog endemic to southeastern Madagascar. It is characterized by its advertisement call, which has shorter note durations and faster note repetitions compared to other frogs in its genus. It is pale green in color and translucent at certain parts of the body, such as the dorsal and ventral skin.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2007). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar (3rd ed.). Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlags. ISBN   978-3929449037.
  2. Tschudi, J. J. v. (1838). Classification der Batrachier mit Berücksichtigung der fossilen Thiere dieser Abtheilung der Reptilien. Neuchâtel: Petitpierre.
  3. Vences, Miguel; Glaw, Frank (2001). "When molecules claim for taxonomic changes: New proposals on the classification of Old World treefrogs". Spixiana. 24 (1): 85–92.
  4. Hutter, Carl; Lambert, Shea M.; Andriampenomanana, Zo F.; Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2018-10-01). "Molecular phylogeny and diversification of Malagasy bright-eyed tree frogs (Mantellidae: Boophis)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 127: 568–578. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2018.05.027. ISSN   1055-7903. PMID   29894731.