Hyperolius mitchelli

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Hyperolius mitchelli
Hyperolius mitchelli.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hyperoliidae
Genus: Hyperolius
Species:
H. mitchelli
Binomial name
Hyperolius mitchelli
Loveridge, 1953 [2]
Synonyms

Hyperolius puncticulatus mitchelliLoveridge, 1953 [3]

Contents

Hyperolius mitchelli (common name: Mitchell's reed frog) is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in the area between northeastern Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Malawi, and central Mozambique. [1] [2] [4] [5]

Taxonomy

Hyperolius mitchelli was first described as a subspecies of Hyperolius puncticulatus by Arthur Loveridge based on specimens collected from near "Fort Johnston, Nyasaland", corresponding to modern Mangochi, Malawi, in 1953. [3] In 1975 it was raised to full species status. [2] Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus from Kenya might be a subspecies of Hyperolius mitchelli. [6]

Etymology

Loveridge did not explain the etymology of the specific name mitchelli he chose for this species. However, the general introduction of the report in which the species was described makes many remarks to Mr. B. L. Mitchell, [3] a naturalist from the Nyasaland Game and Tsetse Department. [7] Mitchell had made significant collections in Nyasaland, the focal area of that report. Loveridge specifically thanks Mr. Mitchell for "furnishing [him] with local information regarding the amphibians". [3] In the same report, Loveridge also named Mitchell's flat lizard (Platysaurus mitchelli) after Mitchell. [7]

Description

The female holotype measures 31 mm (1.2 in) in snout–vent length and the male paratype 25 mm (0.98 in). [3] Typically, males measure 23–27 mm (0.91–1.06 in) and females 25–32 mm (0.98–1.26 in) in snout–vent length. [4] [5] There are two distinct colour phases, "J" and "F". Juveniles and many mature males have phase J whereas mature females and some mature males have phase F. Phase J has a brownish dorsum with diffuse darker spots. Phase F has a darker dorsum, or lighter brown with diffuse darker spots, and broad, black-edged silverish canthal and dorsolateral lines. Ventrum is yellow to orange for both phases. [4]

Habitat and conservation

Hyperolius mitchelli inhabit dry forest, farm bush, and low-intensity farmland. [1] Its altitudinal range is from lowlands to 1,200 m (3,900 ft) above sea level. [5] Breeding takes place in permanent and temporary ponds in rather open forest and farm bush. [1] The clutch size is 50–100 eggs, which are laid on vegetation over water. [5] The species is common and tolerates considerable habitat alteration; it is not considered threatened. [1]

Related Research Articles

Hyperolius bolifambae is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is known from southeastern Nigeria, southern Cameroon, and southwestern Central African Republic, with an isolated record in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo ; the latter record may be considered doubtful. It likely has a broader range towards south and east than currently documented, and the AmphibiaWeb includes Gabon and the Republic of the Congo in the distribution.

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.

Hyperolius camerunensis is a species of reed frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to western and southwestern Cameroon.

<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.

Hyperolius diaphanus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and is known from near the Itombwe Mountains and the mountains to the west of Lake Kivu. Limits of its range are not clear and might extend into the adjacent Burundi and Rwanda. Common names Kigulube reed frog and translucent reed frog have been proposed for this species.

<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.

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

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 minutissimus</i> Species of frog

Hyperolius minutissimus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. Its 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.

Hyperolius obscurus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is a poorly known species known only from its holotype collected from Sandoa, in Kasai Province, south-western Democratic Republic of the Congo, near the border with Angola. Common name Kasai reed frog has been proposed for it.

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

Hyperolius occidentalis is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. Its common name is western reed frog. It is found in the coastal lowlands of westernmost West Africa in Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.

Pickersgills reed frog Species of amphibian in the family Hyperoliidae endemic to South Africa

Pickersgill's 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.

Hyperolius sheldricki is a species of small frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to southeast Kenya. The type locality is in the Tsavo East National Park.

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.

<i>Leptopelis flavomaculatus</i> Species of amphibian

Leptopelis flavomaculatus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the lowlands eastern and southern Africa, from Mozambique north of the Save River and Zimbabwe to Malawi, eastern Tanzania, and coastal Kenya. Its common names are yellow-spotted tree frog, brown-backed tree frog, brown forest treefrog, and Johnston's treefrog.

The Tai forest tree frog, Leptopelis occidentalis, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in Liberia, southern Ivory Coast, and Ghana. Records from Nigeria are controversial and may refer to other species, possibly Leptopelis boulengeri.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Hyperolius mitchelli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T56165A18379579. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T56165A18379579.en . Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Hyperolius mitchelli Loveridge, 1953". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 1 2 3 "Hyperolius mitchelli". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Hyperolius mitchelli Schiøtz 1982". African Amphibians. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  6. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus Schiøtz, 1975". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  7. 1 2 Bo Beolens; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson (26 July 2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. JHU Press. p. 179. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5.
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