Common squeaker

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Common squeaker
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Arthroleptidae
Genus: Arthroleptis
Species:
A. stenodactylus
Binomial name
Arthroleptis stenodactylus
Pfeffer, 1893
Synonyms [2]
  • Arthroleptis whytii Boulenger, 1897
  • Arthroleptis lönnbergi Nieden, 1915
  • Arthroleptis lonnbergi Nieden, 1915
  • Arthroleptis methneri Ahl, 1924
  • Arthroleptis stenodactylus uluguruensis Loveridge, 1932
  • Arthroleptis vagus Ahl, 1939 "1938"
  • Arthroleptis ukamiensis Ahl, 1939 "1938"
  • Coracodichus stenodactylus (Pfeffer, 1893)

Arthroleptis stenodactylus, the common squeaker, dune squeaker, narrow-footed humus frog, savanna squeaking frog, or shovel-footed squeaker, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It occurs widely in the Sub-Saharan Africa and is known from coastal Kenya and eastern and southern Tanzania (including Zanzibar), south to Malawi and Mozambique and southwest to Zambia and southern Democratic Republic of the Congo to western Angola, northern Botswana, Zimbabwe, and northeastern South Africa. [1] [2] An isolated population in Uganda likely represent another species, and it is possible that the current species circumscription includes further cryptic species. [1]

Arthroleptis stenodactylus inhabits a very wide variety of habitats such as forest, savanna woodland, thickets, and suburban areas at elevations up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level, possibly higher. It is typically found in leaf litter. Breeding is through direct development and not dependent on water. The eggs are laid in hollows or burrows in damp earth. It is an abundant species that is not facing significant threats. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Arthroleptis</i>

Arthroleptis is a genus of frogs in the family Arthroleptidae found in tropical sub-Saharan Africa. Their common names include screeching frogs, sometimes simply squeakers.

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 bivittatus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Guinea and only known from the holotype collected from the Tombo Island. It is uncertain whether this species is distinct from the common Arthroleptis poecilonotus. Common name Tumbo-Insel screeching frog has been coined for this species.

Arthroleptis carquejai is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is known with certainty only from northwestern Angola, but there is also a recent record from Gabon. If this is correct, its distribution might also include intervening areas in the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The specific name carquejai honours Bento Carqueja, Portuguese professor, journalist, and philanthropist. Common names Cambondo screeching frog and Carqueja's squeaker have been proposed for it.

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

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. Common names Ruo River screeching frog and France's squeaker have been coined for it.

Arthroleptis lameerei is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in northeastern Angola, southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and western Burundi, though the exact range is poorly known. There is some doubt whether it is distinct from Arthroleptis xenochirus. The specific name lameerei honours Auguste Lameere, a Belgian entomologist. Common names Lameere's squeaker, Lameer's squeaker, and Katanga screeching frog have been coined for this species.

Arthroleptis loveridgei is a species of frogs in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo and only known from its type locality, "Arebi (Uelé)", Ituri Province, in the northeastern part of the country. The specific name loveridgei honours Arthur Loveridge, an American herpetologist. Common names Loveridge's screeching frog and Loveridge's squeaking frog have been coined for it.

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.

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

Arthroleptis poecilonotus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. This adaptable species has a wide range within the Sub-Saharan Africa and is not considered threatened.

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.

<i>Arthroleptis variabilis</i>

Arthroleptis variabilis is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the lowlands of eastern Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Earlier records west from Nigeria refer to other species, including Arthroleptis krokosua described in 2008. Common names Buea screeching frog and variable squeaker frog have been coined for it.

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 xenodactylus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to eastern Tanzania. Its natural habitats are lowland and montane forests where it occurs in leaf-litter, under logs, and in the axils of banana leaves. It is a locally common species that is threatened by habitat loss.

<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.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2016). "Arthroleptis stenodactylus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T45550871A3014890. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T45550871A3014890.en.
  2. 1 2 Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Arthroleptis stenodactylus Pfeffer, 1893". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 19 February 2018.