Leptopelis mackayi

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Leptopelis mackayi
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Arthroleptidae
Genus: Leptopelis
Species:
L. mackayi
Binomial name
Leptopelis mackayi
Köhler, Bwong, Schick, Veith , and Lötters  [ fr ], 2006 [2]

Leptopelis mackayi, the Mackay's forest treefrog or Mackay's tree frog, is a species of arboreal frog from the family Arthroleptidae. [1] [3] [4] Described in 2006, it is currently known from the Kakamega Forest of western Kenya (its type locality) and from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; its full range is likely wider, including suitable habitat in the intervening Uganda. [1] [3]

Contents

Etymology

The specific name mackayi honours Alex Duff-MacKay (1939–2003), herpetologist active in Kenya. [2] [5]

Description

Males grow to 36 mm (1.4 in) and females to 40 mm (1.6 in) in snout–vent length. [4] The head is slightly wider than the body. The snout is rounded. The tympanum is distinct and round or slightly oval. The fingers and the toes have partial webbing, lateral fringes, and round terminal disks. [2] The dorsum is pale brown with a dark, irregular pattern and fine white spots. There is a white spot under the eye. Males have a white vocal sac. [4]

A Gosner stage 27 tadpole measures 27 mm (1.1 in) in length, of which the tail makes two thirds. [2]

Habitat and conservation

Leptopelis mackayi is an arboreal species forest species found at elevations of 1,220 to 1,700 m (4,000 to 5,580 ft). [1] Specimens have been located in both secondary forests and disturbed environments. One tadpole was identified within a puddle. Egg deposition is probably terrestrial, with the tadpoles wriggling themselves into puddles. [1] [2]

This species is considered "vulnerable" because it is only known from two localities and because its habitat is believed to be declining in quality and quantity. It is present in the Kakamega Forest National Park. [1]

Related Research Articles

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Leptopelis is a genus of frogs in the family Arthroleptidae. They are found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, excluding Madagascar. It is placed in monotypic subfamily Leptopelinae, although this subfamily is not always recognized. They have a number of common names, including forest treefrogs, tree frogs, leaf-frogs, and big-eyed frogs.

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

Leptopelis aubryi, also known as the Aubry's tree frog and Gaboon forest treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in southeastern Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, western and northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameroon forest tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

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<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.

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

Leptopelis kivuensis is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the highlands of western Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda, and in the extreme eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has been considered synonym of Leptopelis karissimbensis, and has been confused with that species. Common names Kisenyi forest treefrog and Kivu tree frog have been coined for it.

<i>Leptopelis macrotis</i> Species of frog

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

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Leptopelis nordequatorialis, also known as the West Cameroon forest treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in central and western Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. It is closely related to Leptopelis anchietae and Leptopelis oryi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tai forest tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palm forest tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

The palm forest tree frog is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae which is endemic to Príncipe island in São Tomé and Príncipe. Red tree frog Leptopelis rufus from the African mainland was for a long time included in this species, but is now considered a distinct species.

Leptopelis parbocagii, also known as Lake Upemba forest treefrog or cryptic tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. The specific name parbocagii refers to its similarity to Leptopelis bocagii.

Leptopelis ragazzii is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. The species is endemic to the Ethiopian Highlands on both sides of the Great Rift Valley. Common names Ragazzi's tree frog and Shoa forest treefrog have been coined for it. It is named after Vincenzo Ragazzi (1856–1929), from the Modena Natural History Society, who explored and collected in Ethiopia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

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

Leptopelis vannutellii is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to the highlands of southwestern Ethiopia. Common names Vannutelli's tree frog and Dime forest treefrog have been coined for it. It is named after Leonardo Vannutelli, Italian navy officer who joined Vittorio Bottego's second expedition to East Africa.

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<i>Leptopelis spiritusnoctis</i> Species of frog

Leptopelis spiritusnoctis is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in West Africa from Guinea to the Niger Delta in Nigeria, the intervening countries being Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. This species was previously known as Leptopelis hyloides, but that name is actually a junior synonym of Leptopelis viridis.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Leptopelis mackayi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T135846A18389306. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T135846A18389306.en . Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Köhler, Jörn; Bwong, Beryl A.; Schick, Susanne; Veith, Michael & Lötters, Stefan (2006). "A new species of arboreal Leptopelis (Anura: Arthroleptidae) from the forests of western Kenya". Herpetological Journal. 16 (2): 183–189.
  3. 1 2 Frost, Darrel R. (2023). "Leptopelis mackayi Köhler, Bwong, Schick, Veith, and Lötters, 2006". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001 . Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Channing, Allan & Rödel, Mark-Oliver (2019). Field Guide to the Frogs & other Amphibians of Africa. Cape Town: Struik Nature. p. 226. ISBN   978-1-77584-512-6.
  5. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael & Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 132. ISBN   978-1-907807-42-8.