Meristogenys amoropalamus

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Meristogenys amoropalamus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ranidae
Genus: Meristogenys
Species:
M. amoropalamus
Binomial name
Meristogenys amoropalamus
(Matsui  [ fr ], 1986)
Synonyms [2]

Amolops amoropalamusMatsui, 1986 [3]

Meristogenys amoropalamus is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to northern Borneo and occurs in northwestern Sabah and northeastern Sarawak (Malaysia) and in northeastern Kalimantan (Indonesia). [1] [2] Common names mountain Borneo frog [1] [2] and mountain torrent frog have been coined for it. [4] Studies of its larvae revealed that the nominal species contained two cryptic forms, and in 2011, Shimada and colleagues described Meristogenys dyscritus as a separate species. [5]

Contents

Etymology

The specific name amoropalamus is derived from the Greek words amoros (="incomplete") and palame (="web") and refers to the poorly developed toe webbing of this species. [3]

Description

Adult females grow to about 80 mm (3.1 in) snout–vent length, whereas males are considerably smaller. [4] The maximum lengths reported by Shimada and colleagues are 40 and 67 mm (1.6 and 2.6 in) for males and females, respectively. [5] Males are less robustly built than females and have a relatively much larger tympanum. [4] The snout is comparatively blunt. The fingers and the toes bear round discs; the toes are fully only partially webbed. The dorsum is light brown and has small dark spots on the trunk. The lower parts are whitish. [3]

Habitat and conservation

Meristogenys amoropalamus live in montane forests at elevations of 1,000–2,200 m (3,300–7,200 ft) above sea level and are only encountered along the banks of clear, rocky streams. The tadpoles adhere to rocks and feed on lithophytes. [1]

This species is threatened by habitat loss caused by logging and agricultural activities. It is also collected for food. It occurs in the Kinabalu and Crocker Range National Park in Malaysia, and in the Betung Kerihun National Park and Pulong Tau National Park in Indonesia; the latter is not (yet) well protected. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Meristogenys</i> Genus of amphibians

Meristogenys is a genus of true frogs from Borneo. Its tadpoles are adapted to fast-flowing mountain streams and easily recognizable by their divided upper lip with ribs on the outside.

<i>Staurois</i> Genus of amphibians

Staurois is a small genus of minuscule true frogs. Most species in the genus are restricted to Borneo, but two species are from the Philippines. This genus is a quite ancient member of the true frog family, Ranidae. They are typically found in or near rapidly flowing, small rocky streams, and are sometimes known as splash frogs or foot-flagging frogs. The latter name refers to their unusual behavior of conspicuously waving their hindlegs and feet, as a way of signalling other members of the species. Similar behavior has also been documented in other frog genera, notably Hylodes and Micrixalus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hose's frog</span> Species of amphibian

Hose's frog is a true frog species with a wide range in Southeast Asia. This species was named after zoologist Charles Hose.

<i>Leptobrachium montanum</i> Species of frog

Leptobrachium montanum is a species of frog from the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to Borneo and is, as currently defined, found in Kalimantan (Indonesia), Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia), and Labi, Belait (Brunei). However, the nominal Leptobrachium montanum is a composed of more than one lineage. Available information mostly refers to this composite rather than the "true" Leptobrachium montanum. Common names montane large-eyed litter frog, mountain spadefoot toad, and mountain litter frog have been coined for it.

<i>Amolops larutensis</i> Species of frog

Amolops larutensis is a species of frog in the family Ranidae that is found in the Malay Peninsula from southernmost Thailand to Malaysia; records further north probably represent A. panhai.

Amolops mengyangensis is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is known with certainty only from its type locality, the eponymous Mengyang in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southern Yunnan province of China. However, if Amolops daorum is its junior synonym, distribution of Amolops mengyangensis would be considerably wider, including the vicinity of Sa Pa in northern Vietnam near the Chinese border, Hong Kong, and Houaphanh Province in eastern Laos, and presumably also including the intervening areas.

<i>Meristogenys jerboa</i> Species of frog

Meristogenys jerboa is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to western Sarawak in Borneo. Common names western torrent frog, Matang torrent frog, and Gunther's Borneo frog have been coined for it. Many cryptic species have been separated from this species. Based on mitochondrial DNA, current "true" Meristogenys jerboa still includes two major lineages. However, because the lineages occur in sympatry and do not differ in morphology, Shimada and colleagues elected to treat them as intraspecific variants.

Meristogenys kinabaluensis is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to Borneo and is found in Sabah, Sarawak (Malaysia), and Kalimantan (Indonesia). The specific name refers to its type locality, Mount Kinabalu.

Meristogenys macrophthalmus is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to Sarawak in northern Borneo (Malaysia) and is only known from its type locality in the Bintulu District. The specific name macrophthalmus is derived from the Greek words macros (="large") and ophthalmos (="eye") and refers to the large eyes of this frog. Common names Matsui's Borneo frog, large-eyed torrent frog, and big-eyed torrent frog have been coined for it.

<i>Meristogenys orphnocnemis</i> Species of frog in family Ranidae

Meristogenys orphnocnemis is a species of frog in the family Ranidae, sometimes known as Sabah Borneo frog or dusky-footed torrent frog. It is endemic to Borneo and found in the mountains of Sabah (Malaysia), Brunei, and East Kalimantan (Indonesia). Its natural habitats are hilly lowland rainforest, also occurring in slightly disturbed forests. Tadpoles live in clear, rocky forest streams where they cling to rocks in strong currents. Siltation of streams caused by deforestation is a threat to this species.

Meristogenys phaeomerus is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to Borneo and known from central Sarawak (Malaysia) and adjacent Kalimantan (Indonesia). The specific name phaeomerus is derived from the Greek phaios for "dusky" and meros for "thigh", in reference to the appearance of the rear of the thigh. Common names Kapit Borneo frog and Kapit torrent frog have been coined for it.

Meristogenys poecilus is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to Borneo and known from between central Sarawak (Malaysia) and central Kalimantan (Indonesia). The specific name poecilus is derived from the Greek poikolos, meaning "pied" or "blotched", in reference to diagnostic pattern on rear of the thigh. Common name Malaysian Borneo frog has been coined for this species.

Meristogenys whiteheadi is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to Borneo and found in both Indonesia (Kalimantan) and Malaysia. Meristogenys stigmachilus and Meristogenys stenocephalus, described as new species in 2011, were formerly included in this species. Owing to the difficulty of distinguishing these species under field conditions, the exact range of this species is uncertain. Its common name is Whitehead's Borneo frog or Whitehead's torrent frog.

Amolops daorum is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is known from its type locality in the vicinity of Sa Pa in northern Vietnam near the Chinese border, Hong Kong, and Houaphanh Province in eastern Laos; presumably it also occurs the intervening areas. The Hong Kong record is considered suspicious, however.

<i>Staurois tuberilinguis</i> Species of amphibian

Staurois tuberilinguis is a semi-aquatic amphibian of the true frog family (Ranidae). This diurnal and crepuscular frog is also commonly associated with its very close relative Staurois parvus. In fact, many do not consider the two species to be taxonomically separate. This species is commonly found within the tropical rainforests of on Borneo, Malaysia next to fast-flowing rivers and streams. Due to the frog’s noisy choice of habitat, S. parvus are well-known for their multi-modal system of communication that combines acoustic calls with visual display signals. S. parvus seems to be in decline in part of its range, but overall is listed as being of "least concern" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is threatened by habitat loss, especially by deforestation and sedimentation of streams.

<i>Pseudophilautus variabilis</i> Extinct species of amphibian

Pseudophilautus variabilis, also known as the variable bush frog or variable bubble-nest frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. This now extinct species was endemic to Sri Lanka. Despite extensive searches in recent times, it is only known from collections prior to 1858. The reasons for its disappearance are unknown but probably involve habitat loss.

<i>Chalcorana megalonesa</i> Species of amphibian

Chalcorana megalonesa is a species of true frog in the family Ranidae, the "true frogs". It is endemic to Borneo and is known from both Malaysia and Indonesia (Kalimantan). It was split off from Rana chalconota in 2009 by Robert Inger and colleagues, along with a number of other species. Common name large white-lipped frog has been coined for it.

<i>Chalcorana raniceps</i> Species of amphibian

Chalcorana raniceps, also known as the copper-cheeked frog, white-lipped frog, or Peters' Malaysian frog, is a species of "true frog" in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to Borneo, including Brunei Darussalam, Kalimantan (Indonesia), and Sarawak (Malaysia), although it is likely to occur more widely. Previously mixed with Chalcorana chalconota and believed to have much wider distribution, its range was delimited to Borneo in the revision of "Rana chalconota" complex by Robert Inger and colleagues in 2009.

Meristogenys maryatiae, also known as Maryati's torrent frog, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to the state of Sabah, in the Malaysian part of Borneo. The specific name honours Prof. Datin Mohamed Maryati, entomologist from the Universiti Malaysia Sabah, who helped the describers of this species during their herpetological surveys in Sabah.

Leptobrachella bondangensis is a species of frog in the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to Central Kalimantan, in the Indonesian part of Borneo, and is only known from its eponymous type locality, Mount Bondang in the Murung Raya Regency. Common name Bondang dwarf litter frog has been coined for this species.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Meristogenys amoropalamus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T79096095A176639244. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T79096095A176639244.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Meristogenys amoropalamus (Matsui, 1986)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Matsui, Masafumi (1986). "Three new species of Amolops (Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae)". Copeia. 1986 (3): 623–630. doi:10.2307/1444943. JSTOR   1444943.
  4. 1 2 3 Haas, A.; Das, I. & Hertwig, S.T. (2017). "Meristogenys amoropalamus (Mountain Torrent Frog)". Frogs of Borneo. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  5. 1 2 Shimada, T.; Matsui, M.; Yambun, P. & Sudin, A. (2011). "A survey of morphological variation in adult Meristogenys amoropalamus (Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae), with a description of a new cryptic species" (PDF). Zootaxa. 2905: 33–56. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2905.1.3. S2CID   17477067.