Meristogenys whiteheadi

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Meristogenys whiteheadi
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ranidae
Genus: Meristogenys
Species:
M. whiteheadi
Binomial name
Meristogenys whiteheadi
(Boulenger, 1887)
Synonyms [2]

Rana whiteheadiBoulenger, 1887 [3]
Amolops whiteheadi(Boulenger, 1887)

Contents

Meristogenys whiteheadi is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. [2] It is endemic to Borneo and found in both Indonesia (Kalimantan) and Malaysia (western Sabah). [1] Meristogenys stigmachilus and Meristogenys stenocephalus , described as new species in 2011, were formerly included in this species. [1] [2] Owing to the difficulty of distinguishing these species under field conditions, the exact range of this species is uncertain. [1] Its common name is Whitehead's Borneo frog [1] [2] or Whitehead's torrent frog. [4]

Etymology

This species is named after John Whitehead, explorer who collected the type series from Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia. [3]

Description

The dorsum is light brown to greenish dark brown. The lips are dark grey to black. The iris is bicoloured, with a reddish orange horizontal band in the middle surrounded by whitish brown bands above and below. The centre of the tympanum usually has a small light circle. The limbs have alternating light- and dark-brown dorsal cross-bars. The rear of thigh is light brown with scattered light dots. The throat and chest are whitish, with dark dots; abdomen is whitish. The legs are whitish ventrally, with patches of pigmentation. [4] The pattern may vary between locations. [5]

Meristogenys whiteheadi are relatively large frogs. Males from Sabah measured 49–62 mm (1.9–2.4 in) in snout–vent length (SVL) and females 78–87 mm (3.1–3.4 in) SVL. Males from Sarawak measured 49–57 mm (1.9–2.2 in) SVL and females 77–80 mm (3.0–3.1 in) SVL. [5]

Habitat and conservation

Meristogenys whiteheadi occur in hilly rainforests at elevations below 1,300 m (4,300 ft). They breed in clear, rocky streams. The tadpoles cling to the rocks in strong currents and feed on lithophytic algae. [1]

Meristogenys whiteheadi is threatened by habitat loss caused by logging. The resulting siltation of streams destroys the larval habitat. This species is present in the Kinabalu, Crocker Range, and Kayan Mentarang National Parks [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Whitehead (explorer)</span> English explorer and zoologist

John Whitehead was an English explorer, naturalist and professional collector of natural history specimens in Southeast Asia. He is the first documented person to reach the summit of Mount Kinabalu: this was in 1888, after annual attempts from 1885.

<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.

Ansonia albomaculata, also known as the white-lipped slender toad and whitebelly stream toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the island of Borneo and can be found in Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia), Brunei, and northern Kalimantan (Indonesia).

<i>Ansonia fuliginea</i> Species of amphibian

Ansonia fuliginea, the North Borneo stream toad or North Borneo slender toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

Ansonia guibei is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to northwestern Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. The specific name guibei honors Jean Guibé, a French zoologist and herpetologist. Common names Mesilau toad and Mesilau stream toad have been coined for it.

Ansonia platysoma, also known as the flat-bodied slender toad and Luidan stream toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the island of Borneo and known from Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia, and from Brunei. Its closest relative is Ansonia kelabitensis.

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). Common names mountain Borneo frog and mountain torrent frog have been coined for it. 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.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock skipper</span> Species of amphibian

The rock skipper, also known as Sabah splash frog, is a frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to northern and western Borneo.

<i>Philautus bunitus</i> Species of frog

Philautus bunitus is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to Malaysian Borneo and inhabits subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Philautus everetti</i> Species of frog

Philautus everetti is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae found in the Philippines and Malaysia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and rivers. In Borneo, this species occurs in the mountainous area from Gunung Kinabalu National Park in Sabah to Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak. It is usually observed between 750 and 1800 meters above sea level, but it is rarely seen as low as 300 meters above sea level.

Leptobrachella baluensis is a species of amphibian in the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to montane northern Borneo in Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia) and northern Kalimantan (Indonesia). It has been in synonymy with Leptobrachella mjobergi, but is now treated as a valid species.

<i>Feihyla inexpectata</i> Species of frog

Feihyla inexpectata is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. This recently (2014) described species is endemic to Malaysian Borneo and known from its type locality in the Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sandakan Division, Sabah and from Danum Valley, also in Sabah. Common name Bornean opposite-fingered tree frog has been coined for it.

Tropidophorus beccarii, also known commonly as Beccari's keeled skink and Beccari's water skink, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Lygosominae of the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the island of Borneo.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2018). "Meristogenys whiteheadi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T79096537A79096290. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T79096537A79096290.en . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Meristogenys whiteheadi (Boulenger, 1887)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  3. 1 2 Boulenger, G. A. (1887). "On new reptiles and batrachians from North Borneo" (PDF). Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Series 5. 20 (116): 95–97. doi:10.1080/00222938709460016.
  4. 1 2 Haas, A.; Hertwig, S.T.; Das, I. (2014). "Meristogenys whiteheadi (Whitehead's Torrent Frog)". Frogs of Borneo. Retrieved 11 November 2014. (includes photographs)
  5. 1 2 Inger, Robert F.; Stuebing, Robert B. (2009). "New species and new records of Bornean frogs (Amphibia: Anura)" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 57: 527–535. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
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