Boophis occidentalis

Last updated

Boophis occidentalis
Boophis occidentalis 01.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Mantellidae
Genus: Boophis
Species:
B. occidentalis
Binomial name
Boophis occidentalis
Glaw & Vences, 1994

Boophis occidentalis is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, rivers, pastureland, urban areas, and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

ADULT LIFE

Morphology:

Adult specimens typically have mean snout-vent lengths of 55.3 ±3.3 mm and mean weights of 10.9 ±1.8 grams. Male adults in breeding conditions have cornified pointed spiculae on their heads and bodies. They have well developed nuptial pads with enlarged prepollex on the distal phalanx of finger I. Cloacal openings are displayed ventrally and extend anteriorly below the thighs.

Females have smoother skin without keratinized parts and a soft non distally oriented prepollex. Cloacal openings on females are mid-level of the thighs and have short dorsal covering flaps. [1]

Coloration:

There are two color-morphs distinguished for the Boophis Occidentalis species: almost uniformly light green dorsally or brownish coloration with shadings of olive green dorsally. Both morphs are yellowish ventrally with the inner part of the legs being reddish. Brown specimens are more common than green specimens.

In green the dorsal surface is green with flanks that are lighter with pinkish to whitish shading towards the ventral side. Small light greenish-white spots are present on the posterior parts of the flank anterior to the groin. Upper parts of the hands and feet are yellow-ish. Both sexes have yellowish-whitish upper lips and webbing between the toes that are red to purple shaded. The iris is bronze-yellow or golden-yellow with a light blue periphery.

In brown specimens the flanks are lighter than the back and the reddish webbing of the feet is less bright. Some coloration differences in sexes: In green males the area between dorsolateral folds appears darker than females due to blackish spiculae being present. Supra-ocular yellowish stripes are visible on females but not males due to lack of spiculae obscuring them. [2]

Tadpole morphology

Snout-vent-length (SVL) of metamorphs is 20–30 mm. SVL in adults is 50–65 mm, giving metamorphs already 457-60% of adult SVL. Reasoning for this can be explained by B. occidentalis adaptation to arid environments of Madagascar. Larger size at metamorphosis allows for a better ability to feed on larger prey and less energy needs to be invested to reach sexual maturity. B. occidentalis is primarily live along permanent rivers which allows for longer larvae period and therefore allows metamorphs to reach larger size because of the lower evo-transpiration rate. [3]

BREEDING BEHAVIOR

Males aggregate in spaced out choruses after sunset into late night in shallow slow-moving pools along the edges of streams. Males located in water, and less often the ones in trees, emit a low-frequency ‘rumbling’ vocalization. Males influence each other's calling behaviors and often neighboring males alternate in their calls. Males in water engage in scramble battles before mating.

Reproduction is synchronous in the B. occidentalis species. When females arrive and are fully submerged they are immediately clasped by males. Pairs of males and females are often amplected by several additional males. Males keep their cloaca closely adpressed to the female's cloaca and egg deposition occurs seconds after mating. Eggs immediately attach in a single layer to surrounding submerged stones. Eggs are around 2.2-2.5 mm in diameter and are initially black with a large white pole immediately after oviposition, but gastrulate and become fully black within a few hours. [4]

VOCALIZATION

Calls of the male Boophis occidentalis are emitted at irregular intervals and are composed of unharmonious notes with no clearly arranged regular series. Notes are composed of 26-34 pulses and each note is 262-362 ms long. The duration of note pulses is 3-5 ms with intervals of 4-8 ms in between. The last pulse of notes is more intense, harmonious, sounds ‘click’ like and is longer than a normal pulse with a duration of 5-18 ms. Pulse repetition rate is 90-109 pulses/second with a frequency of 900–200 Hz. Boophis occidentalis calls are similar to species Boophis albilabriscalls. Major differences between calls are B. albilabris notes are composed of less pulses with each note duration being longer Pulse duration is similar but has longer intervals between pulses. B. albilabris exhibit a different ‘click’ pulse that is more isolated and longer. Pulse repetition is shorter and frequency of notes are higher. [5]

Related Research Articles

Mantellidae Family of amphibians

The Mantellidae are a family of the order Anura. These frogs are endemic to the islands of Madagascar and Mayotte.

Cophylinae 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.

<i>Plethodontohyla</i> Genus of amphibians

Plethodontohyla is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar.

<i>Aglyptodactylus</i> Genus of amphibians

Aglyptodactylus is a genus of frogs in the family Mantellidae. These frogs, sometimes known as the Madagascar jumping frogs, are endemic to Madagascar. Systematic revisions of the groups were published in 1998 and 2015. Six species are currently recognized.

<i>Scaphiophryne</i>

Scaphiophryne is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. Some of the species are strikingly marked, while others are highly cryptic. They are rather plump and generally found on the ground. Several species in the genus are threatened because of habitat loss and overcollection for the international pet trade.

<i>Boophis</i> Genus of amphibians

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).

Boophis feonnyala is a species of frogs in the family Mantellidae.

<i>Boophis marojezensis</i> Species of frog

Boophis marojezensis is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar.

Green bright-eyed frog Species of amphibian

The green bright-eyed frog is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar.

Blue-legged mantella Species of amphibian

The blue-legged mantella is a small species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to the Isalo National Park and areas south of it in Madagascar, a range it shares with the rainbow frog. Both are locally common, but endangered due to habitat loss and over-collected for the pet trade.

Madagascan mantella Species of frog

Mantella madagascariensis, common names Malagasy painted mantella, Madagascan mantella, Madagascar golden frog, Malagasy mantella and painted mantella, is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae.

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

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

<i>Rhombophryne</i> Genus of amphibians

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.

Boophis baetkei is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to northern Madagascar and only known from its type locality on the eastern edge of the Fôret d'Ambre Special Reserve in the Antsiranana Province. It is an arboreal species that was found in a heavily disturbed transitional forest. It is threatened by severe habitat loss occurring in the area of its type locality.

<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 massi</i> Species of frog

Spinomantis massi is a species of frog in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. It is endemic to the humid forests of northwestern Madagascar.

Spinomantis microtis is a species of frog in the Mantellid subfamily Mantellinae, endemic to Madagascar.

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, has 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".

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. ↑ Andreone, F., Vences, M., Guarino, F.M., Glaw, F. & J.E. Randrianirina (2002): Natural history and larval morphology of Boophis occidentalis (Anura: Mantellidae: Boophinae) provide new insights into the phylogeny and adaptive radiation of endemic Malagasy frogs. – J. Zool., 257: 425-438.
  2. ↑ Andreone, F., Vences, M., Guarino, F.M., Glaw, F. & J.E. Randrianirina (2002): Natural history and larval morphology of Boophis occidentalis (Anura: Mantellidae: Boophinae) provide new insights into the phylogeny and adaptive radiation of endemic Malagasy frogs). – J. Zool., 257: 425-438.
  3. ↑ Andreone, F., Mercurio, V., Mattioli, F. & Razafindrabe, T.J. (2007) Size at metamorphosis of Boophis occcidentalis Glaw & Vences, 1994 in an arid environment of central-southern Madagascar. Salamandra, 43, 119–121.
  4. ↑ Andreone, F., Vences, M., Guarino, F.M., Glaw, F. & J.E. Randrianirina (2002): Natural history and larval morphology of Boophis occidentalis (Anura: Mantellidae: Boophinae) provide new insights into the phylogeny and adaptive radiation of endemic Malagasy frogs). – J. Zool., 257: 425-438.
  5. ↑ Andreone, F., Vences, M., Guarino, F.M., Glaw, F. & J.E. Randrianirina (2002): Natural history and larval morphology of Boophis occidentalis (Anura: Mantellidae: Boophinae) provide new insights into the phylogeny and adaptive radiation of endemic Malagasy frogs). – J. Zool., 257: 425-438.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.