Mini (frog)

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Mini
Mini mum 03.jpg
Mini mum
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Subfamily: Cophylinae
Genus: Mini
Scherz et al., 2019
Type species
Mini mum
Scherz et al., 2019
Diversity
3 species

Mini is a genus of tiny microhylid frogs that are endemic to southeastern Madagascar where they live among leaf litter in lowland forests. The three species and the genus itself were only scientifically described in 2019; although not yet rated by the IUCN, they have very small ranges and it has been recommended that two qualify as critically endangered and M. ature as data deficient. [1] [2]

Contents

At about 8–11.5 mm (0.31–0.45 in) in snout–vent length, M. mum and M. scule are two of the world's smallest frogs, and the larger M. ature is only c.15 mm (0.6 in). [1] [2] [3] [4] They were formerly confused with Stumpffia , another genus of tiny frogs from Madagascar. All are well-camouflaged brown frogs. [1]

Species

The genus name is derived from English prefix "mini-", denoting a small version of an object. All the binomials names are examples of wordplay as they sound like words for small in English. There are currently 3 species: [1]

Description

Diminutive terrestrial frogs (adult SVL 8.2–14.9 mm) with divided vomers, procoelous vertebral column, divided sphenethmoids, and genetic affinities. Skin smooth to slightly granular, occasionally iridescent. A lateral colour border is present but varies in intensity among species. Highly reduced fingers and toes, fusion or loss of carpal 2, and paedomorphic skull morphology: laterally displaced narrow nasals, teeth absent from vomer, in some species present on the maxilla and premaxilla, otic capsule sometimes dorsally ossified, brain case comprising most of the skull’s length and width. [1]

Distribution

The genus Mini is apparently endemic to low-elevation habitats (0–350 m a. s. l.) of southeastern Madagascar. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microhylidae</span> Family of amphibians

The Microhylidae, commonly known as narrow-mouthed frogs, are a geographically widespread family of frogs. The 683 species are in 57 genera and 11 subfamilies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saddleback toad</span> Genus of amphibians

The saddleback toads (Brachycephalus) are a genus of tiny toads and frogs in the family Brachycephalidae in the order Anura, ranging from south Bahia to Santa Catarina in southeastern Brazil. The genus includes two main groups, the often brightly coloured pumpkin toadlets, and the overall brown and more frog-like flea frogs, which once were placed in their own genus Psyllophryne. Some pumpkin toadlets are toxic and their often bright colours are considered aposematic. At about 1 cm (0.4 in) or less in snout–to–vent length, the flea frogs are some of the smallest frogs in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cophylinae</span> Subfamily of amphibians

Cophylinae is a subfamily of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. It has over 100 species in eight genera. Members of this subfamily range from minute to fairly large, and they are highly ecologically diverse. DNA barcode research has revealed a significant taxonomic gap in this subfamily, and an estimated 70+ candidate species were identified. Many of these have subsequently been described, as well as numerous new discoveries.

<i>Anodonthyla</i> Genus of amphibians

Anodonthyla is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. Molecular data suggest that it is the sister taxon to all other species in the subfamily Cophylinae.

<i>Plethodontohyla</i> Genus of amphibians

Plethodontohyla is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar.

<i>Stumpffia</i> Genus of amphibians

Stumpffia is a genus of microhylid frogs that are endemic to Madagascar. They are mostly brown frogs that typically live among leaf litter. S. contumelia has a snout–vent length of about 8–9 mm (0.31–0.35 in), making it one of the world's smallest frogs, and several others in the genus are only slightly larger. The largest species is no more than 28 mm (1.1 in).

<i>Scaphiophryne</i> Genus of frogs from Madagascar

Scaphiophryne is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. Some of the species are strikingly marked, while others are highly cryptic. They are rather plump and generally found on the ground. Several species in the genus are threatened because of habitat loss and overcollection for the international pet trade.

Microhyla borneensis, also known as the Matang narrow-mouthed frog, is a species of microhylid frog found in the Matang Range in Sarawak, Borneo. It was once the smallest known frog from the Old World. Adult males of this species generally have a snout–vent length (SVL) in the range of 10.6–12.8 mm (0.42–0.50 in), but may reach a maximum of 13 mm (0.51 in). Adult females have an SVL of 16–19 mm (0.63–0.75 in). The tadpoles measure just 3 mm.

<i>Rhombophryne</i> Genus of amphibians

Rhombophryne is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. It is currently estimated to include more than 23 species, but only 20 of these are currently described. The common name 'diamond frog' has been proposed and used for members of this genus.

<i>Anilany</i> Genus of amphibians

Anilany helenae is a species of frog in the microyhlid subfamily Cophylinae. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Anilany, and is endemic to central Madagascar.

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

The Brazilian gold frog, also known as Izecksohn's toad or flea-frog, is a very small species of frogs in the family Brachycephalidae. It is endemic to southeastern Brazil and is known from the central part of the state of Rio de Janeiro and from Serra das Torres in extreme southern Espírito Santo.

<i>Plethodontohyla alluaudi</i> Species of amphibian

Plethodontohyla alluaudi is a frog belonging to the Madagascar-endemic subfamily Cophylinae of the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to southeastern Madagascar. It is a terrestrial and fossorial frog that occurs in rainforest, including littoral forest. Despite being locally abundant, it is a difficult frog to find.

<i>Rhombophryne serratopalpebrosa</i> Species of amphibian

Rhombophryne serratopalpebrosa is a species of frog of the Madagascar endemic microhylid subfamily Cophylinae. Genetic evidence revealed that it is a species complex, in need of resolution. This work has made significant progress, and five related species have been described from this complex between 2014 and 2017. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Rhombophryne vaventy</i> Species of amphibian

Rhombophryne vaventy is a large species of frogs of the Madagascar endemic microhylid subfamily Cophylinae. It is one of the largest members of its genus.

<i>Rhombophryne botabota</i> Species of amphibian

Rhombophryne botabota is a medium-sized species of frogs of the Madagascar endemic microhylid subfamily Cophylinae. It is found in the montane rainforests of northern Madagascar. It was described in 2016 from seven specimens.

<i>Mini mum</i> Species of amphibian

Mini mum is a species of microhylid frog endemic to Madagascar that was described in 2019. It is the type species of its genus, Mini. The scientific name of the species refers to its size, being a pun on the word minimum: this wordplay led to the species receiving media attention when first described.

<i>Anodonthyla eximia</i> Species of frog

Anodonthyla eximia is a species of frog from Ranomafana in Eastern Madagascar endemic microhylid subfamily Cophylinae. It is the smallest species of the genus Anodonthyla and is the only known terrestrial member of the genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andolalao Rakotoarison</span> Malagasy Herpetologist

Andolalao Rakotoarison is a Malagasy herpetologist.

<i>Mini scule</i> Species of microhylid frog endemic to Madagascar

Mini scule is a species of microhylid frog endemic to Madagascar that was described in 2019. The scientific name of the species refers to its size, being a pun on the word miniscule. It measures only 8.4 to 10.8 mm in snout–vent length. It has bronze underparts with a brown groin and back of the thigh, cream upperparts with brown flecking, a dark brown side of the head, and a red iris. It is known only from the Sainte Luce Reserve, where it inhabits areas with deep leaf litter near semi-permanent water bodies. Specimens of frogs from Mandena, the Vohimena mountains, the southern Anosy Mountains, and Tsitongambarika may also be of this species. Like other species in the genus Mini, it received media attention when first described due to the wordplay in its scientific name.

<i>Mini ature</i> Species of frog endemic to Madagascar

Mini ature is a species of very small microhylid frog endemic to Madagascar described in 2019. The scientific name of the species refers to its size, being a pun on the word miniature. Although it measures only 14.9 mm (0.59 in) in snout–vent length, it is the largest species in its genus. The holotype of the species has a light brown back, beige sides, a dark brown underside with beige speckling that turns beige near the bottom, and a dark brown side and back of the head. It is known only from Andohahela National Park in Anosy, Madagascar. Like other species in its genus, it received media attention when first described due to the wordplay in its scientific name.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Scherz, Mark D.; Hutter, Carl D.; Rakotoarison, Andolalao; Riemann, Jana C.; Rödel, Mark-Oliver; Ndriantsoa, Serge H.; Glos, Julian; Roberts, Sam Hyde; Crottini, Angelica; Vences, Miguel; Glaw, Frank (2019-03-27). "Morphological and ecological convergence at the lower size limit for vertebrates highlighted by five new miniaturised microhylid frog species from three different Madagascan genera". PLOS ONE. 14 (3): e0213314. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1413314S. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213314 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   6436692 . PMID   30917162. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  2. 1 2 Donahue, Michelle Z. (2019-03-27). "New staple-size frog is one of the tiniest ever discovered". National Geographic. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  3. Scherz, Mark D. "Meet the mini frogs of Madagascar -- the new species we've discovered". The Conversation.
  4. Solly, Meilan (28 March 2019). "Meet Mini mum, Mini scule and Mini ature, Three New Frog Species Among the World's Smallest". Smithsonian.com. Retrieved 2019-04-30.