Hyperolius minutissimus

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Hyperolius minutissimus
Hyperolius minutissimus.gif
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hyperoliidae
Genus: Hyperolius
Species:
H. minutissimus
Binomial name
Hyperolius minutissimus
Schiøtz  [ fr ], 1975

Hyperolius minutissimus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It's common names are tiny reed frog and dwarf reed frog. It is endemic to Tanzania and known from the Udzungwa Mountains and from near Njombe in the Southern Highlands. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Taxonomy

Hyperolius minutissimus belongs to the "East African spiny-throated reed frog complex", consisting of five other species: Hyperolius spinigularis , Hyperolius tanneri , Hyperolius burgessi , Hyperolius davenporti , and Hyperolius ukwiva . Based on molecular genetic data, its closest relative is H. ukwiva from the Rubeho Mountains, Tanzania. The form a sister group to a group consisting of the remaining four species in this complex. [5]

Description

Males measure 12–17 mm (0.47–0.67 in) and females 18–24 mm (0.71–0.94 in) in snout–vent length; [3] [4] Loader and colleagues report larger male sizes (19–23 mm) from the Udzungwa Mountains, but no data on females. [5]

The dorsum is brown and has light canthal and dorsolateral lines. Some females, however, have broad light canthal and irregular dorsolateral stripes, as well as spots on the dorsum. The pupil is horizontal. [3] [4] Males have a gular flap and black dotted asperities distributed on anterior and mid-region of the gular flap. [5]

Habitat and conservation

The species' natural habitats are open, windswept, montane grasslands in forested areas at elevations of 1,600–2,010 m (5,250–6,590 ft) above sea level. It has also been found in pastureland and heard calling by a road near a large pine plantation. Breeding takes place in shallow, temporary swamps. [1]

Hyperolius minutissimus is easy to overlook, so although it is rarely seen, it might not be quite so rare. Nevertheless, it is threatened by habitat loss (draining of its breeding habitat for agricultural activities, afforestation, agricultural expansion, fire, and expanding human settlements). It has not been recorded in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. However, it occurs in the Udzungwa Scarp Forest, which was, as of 2014, "soon to be a nature reserve". It has not been recorded in the Southern Highlands since the initial species description in 1975. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Afrixalus morerei</i> Species of frog

Afrixalus morerei is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania. It was originally described as a subspecies of Afrixalus septentrionalis, but is currently recognized as a full species. The specific name morerei honours Jean-Jacques Morère, a French herpetologist from the National Museum of Natural History, Paris. Its common names are Morère's spiny reed frog, Dabaga's leaf-folding frog, and Morere's banana frog.

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.

<i>Hyperolius acutirostris</i> Species of frog

Hyperolius acutirostris is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to southwestern Cameroon, found as far east as the region of Yaoundé. Common name sharpsnout reed frog has been coined for it.

Hyperolius balfouri is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, southwestern Ethiopia, Uganda, and western Kenya. The specific name balfouri honours J.W. Balfour, a missionary in Uganda. Common names Balfour's reed frog and Ethiopia reed frog have been coined for this species, with the latter name referring to the now-synonymized Hyperolius zavattarii. Populations from the western part of the range may be referred to the subspecies Hyperolius balfouri viridistriatus.

Hyperolius brachiofasciatus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is known from its type locality, Ngoto in southwestern Central African Republic, from another locality in central Republic of the Congo, and from a number of localities in central Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, as of 2014, IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group considers records other than the one from the type locality erroneous, and that this species likely is a synonym of some other species. Common name Ngoto reed frog has been proposed for it.

<i>Hyperolius castaneus</i> Species of amphibian

Hyperolius castaneus is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in the highlands of western Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda as well as eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Common names of this species include Ahl's reed frog, brown reed frog, and montane reed frog. The status of the putative subspecies Hyperolius castaneus rhodogaster is unclear, and it may actually be a distinct species. Also Hyperolius constellatus, now a distinct species, was formerly recognized as a subspecies of H. castaneus.

<i>Hyperolius concolor</i> Species of amphibian

Hyperolius concolor, also known as the variable reed frog or Hallowell's sedge frog, is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It occurs in West and Middle Africa.

<i>Hyperolius guttulatus</i> Species of frog

Hyperolius guttulatus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It occurs in West and Middle Africa between Sierra Leone in the west and Gabon in the east/south. Common name dotted reed frog has been coined for this species.

Hyperolius igbettensis is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in West Africa from Guinea eastward to Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Benin, Nigeria, and into Central Africa at least to Cameroon but likely further east to the Central African Republic and southwestern Chad; the eastern border of distribution of this species relative to other members in the Hyperolius nasutus complex is unclear. Common name Igbetti long reed frog has been coined for it. The type locality is near Igbetti, a village in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Hyperolius kihangensis, also known as the Kihanga reed frog or volcano reed frog, is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the Udzungwa Mountains in south-central Tanzania.

<i>Hyperolius mitchelli</i> Species of amphibian

Hyperolius mitchelli is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in the area between northeastern Tanzania, Malawi, and central Mozambique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pickersgill's reed frog</span> Species of amphibian in the family Hyperoliidae endemic to South Africa

Pickersgill's reed frog, also known as Avoca reed frog, is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to South Africa. It occurs in the coastal lowlands of KwaZulu-Natal between Sezela and St Lucia.

<i>Hyperolius picturatus</i> Species of frog

Hyperolius picturatus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in northern and eastern Sierra Leone, southern Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Ghana; its range might extend to Togo. Common names coined for this species are Tanzania reed frog and variable montane sedge frog.

Hyperolius pseudargus, also known as the Mette's reed frog, is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to south-central Tanzania and occurs in the Udzungwa Mountains and south to Njombe in the Southern Highlands. Male Hyperolius pseudargus greatly resemble Hyperolius argus but have less webbing between the toes and the male advertisement call is different. The vernacular name refers to Mette Westergaard, Danish biologist who collected the holotype and is the junior describer of this species.

<i>Hyperolius semidiscus</i> Species of amphibian

Hyperolius semidiscus is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in southern and eastern South Africa and in Eswatini, and it is likely to be present in Mozambique. Common names yellow-striped reed frog, yellow-flanked reed frog, and Hewitt's reed frog have been coined for it.

<i>Hyperolius spinigularis</i> Species of frog

Hyperolius spinigularis is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in the Mulanje Massif in southern Malawi and the Namuli Massif in adjacent Mozambique. Records from Tanzania refers to other species. Males of this species have characteristic small spines during the breeding season. Its common names are spiny-throated reed frog, spiny reed frog, and Mulanje reed frog.

Hyperolius sylvaticus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in southern Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, and western Cameroon, with a gap in Benin. It is also likely to occur in Liberia. Common name Bobiri reed frog has been coined for this species.

<i>Hyperolius tanneri</i> Species of amphibian

Hyperolius tanneri is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the West Usambara Mountains in northeastern Tanzania. Common name Tanner's reed frog has been coined for this species.

Hyperolius torrentis is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is known from the Akwapim-Togo Ranges along the border between Ghana and Togo as well as from northeastern Benin. Common name Ukami reed frog has been coined for this species.

Hyperolius wermuthi is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in Ivory Coast, southern Guinea, and Liberia. The correct name for this species is likely Hyperolius soror. It is so similar to Hyperolius fusciventris that it has likely been overlooked elsewhere in West Africa. Common name Wermuth's reed frog has been coined for this species.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2016). "Hyperolius minutissimus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T69192627A17191157. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T69192627A17191157.en . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Hyperolius minutissimus Schiøtz, 1975". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Zimkus, Breda (2014). "Hyperolius minutissimus Schiøtz, 1975". African Amphibians. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Hyperolius minutissimus". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Loader, Simon P.; Lawson, Lucinda P.; Portik, Daniel M.; Menegon, Michele (25 April 2015). "Three new species of spiny throated reed frogs (Anura: Hyperoliidae) from evergreen forests of Tanzania". BMC Research Notes. 8 (1): 167. doi: 10.1186/s13104-015-1050-y . PMC   4409744 . PMID   25909565.