Monte Iberia eleuth

Last updated

Monte Iberia eleuth
Eleutherodactylus iberia04.jpg
Eleutherodactylus iberia.jpg
Individual on the forest floor (above), another on a hand showings the species' minute size (below)
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Eleutherodactylidae
Genus: Eleutherodactylus
Subgenus: Euhyas
Species:
E. iberia
Binomial name
Eleutherodactylus iberia
Estrada and Hedges, 1996 [2]
IberiafrogmapX.png
Distribution in Cuba in red

The Monte Iberia eleuth (Eleutherodactylus iberia), also known as the Monte Iberia dwarf frog, is a species of eleutherodactylid frog. It is critically endangered and endemic to rainforest in a small part of easternmost Cuba. [1] [3] It is the smallest frog in the Northern Hemisphere and the third smallest frog in the world, at about 10 mm (0.4 in) in snout–to–vent length (only a few members of the Southern Hemisphere genera Brachycephalus , Mini , Paedophryne and Stumpffia are smaller). [4] [5] [6]

Contents

It was first discovered in 1993 on Mount Iberia in the Holguín Province, from which it gets its name. Much remains unknown about this small creature. It is part of a closely related Cuban group that contains five additional described species ( E. cubanus , E. etheridgei , E. jaumei , E. limbatus and E. orientalis ) and at least one undescribed species; most of which are of tiny size, relatively brightly colored and possibly aposematic (at least E. iberia and E. orientalis have alkaloid toxins in their skin). [7]

Discovery

This diminutive species was first documented by Cuban scientist Alberto R. Estrada of the Institute of Forest Research in Havana, working with S. Blair Hedges of Pennsylvania State University in association with the National Science Foundation's Biotic Surveys and Inventories Program. On a 1993 expedition to Cuchillas de Moa in search of the ivory-billed woodpecker (now believed to be extinct), four E. iberia specimens were collected after being uncovered under leaf litter and among the roots of ferns in a secondary hardwood forest on the western slope of Monte Iberia. The find was published in the journal Copeia , where the name Eleutherodactylus iberia was introduced. [2] [5] [8] [9]

Description

Three adult males in the type series measure 9.6–10 mm (0.4–0.4 in) and the sole adult female 10.5 mm (0.4 in) in snout–vent length. [2]

E. iberia is physically similar to E. limbatus and E. orientalis , but it is generally darker and the lines on its back do not extend as far to the rear. Because of the extreme miniaturization of the species, it possesses fewer teeth than related species and a laryngeal apparatus comparable in size to the head of a pin (resulting in a high-pitched call of a series of irregular chirps, comparable to other species of the genus). [2]

Reproductive information is extremely limited. The female specimen which was the sole source of data thus far was found beside an egg, suggesting E. iberia lays a single egg in each clutch and the parents are closely involved in raising the young (as is common with animals which birth few offspring a time). [8]

Frogchart y2.png

Habitat

Only two isolated populations are known to exist, both in the Holguín Province of eastern Cuba at elevations under 600 m above sea level. [10] The first location is on top of the Monte Iberia tableland where the frog was discovered. The second is smaller (less than 100 km2) and sparsely occupied, near Nibujón at sea level. This latter area has suffered great disturbances over the past 40 years from human activities. [11]

E. iberia exists in areas of closed rainforest with poorly drained soil; it requires high humidity for its survival. [12]

Diet

The Monte Iberia Eleuth has a similar diet to other small frogs, despite its miniature size. It hunts and eats a wide range of invertebrates, feeding on insects, moths, and spiders. [13]

Related Research Articles

Eleutherodactylidae Family of amphibians

The Eleutherodactylidae are a family of direct-developing frogs native to northern South America, the Caribbean, and southernmost North America. They are sometimes known under the common name rain frogs. Formerly the subfamily Eleutherodactylinae of the family Leptodactylidae, it was raised to the family status following a major revision of New World direct-developing frogs in 2008. As currently defined, the family has more than 200 species.

<i>Eleutherodactylus</i> Genus of amphibians

Eleutherodactylus is a genus of frogs in the family Eleutherodactylidae. Many of the 200 species of the genus are commonly known as "rain frogs" or "robber frogs", due to their sharp, high-pitched, insect-like calls.

<i>Adelophryne</i> Genus of amphibians

Adelophryne is a genus of frogs in the family Eleutherodactylidae. They are native to northern South America east of the Andes, known roughly from the area corresponding to the Guiana Shield, as well as to the coastal area of Bahia, Brazil. Whether the genus is truly distinct from Phyzelaphryne remains uncertain. Common name shield frogs has been proposed for this genus, although the stem flea frog is used for some species.

<i>Euparkerella</i> Genus of amphibians

Euparkerella is a genus of craugastorid frogs. The common name coined for them is Guanabara frogs. They are endemic to Atlantic coastal forests in the southeastern Brazilian states Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. The name Euparkerella honours H. W. Parker, a herpetologist who named the type species, with the Greek prefix eu meaning true and suffix ella, a diminutive form.

Web-footed coquí Species of amphibian

The web-footed coqui, stream coqui, Puerto Rican stream frog, or Karl's robber frog, Eleutherodactylus karlschmidti, is a possibly extinct Puerto Rican frog species in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It was first described by Chapman Grant in 1931, and was named after herpetologist Karl Patterson Schmidt. It is the largest Eleutherodactylus species of Puerto Rico.

Smallest organisms

The smallest organisms found on Earth can be determined according to various aspects of organism size, including volume, mass, height, length, or genome size.

Yellow-striped pygmy eleuth Species of amphibian

The yellow-striped pygmy eleuth, also known as the yellow-striped dwarf frog, is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae from closed mesic and xeric forests in Cuba.

Eleutherodactylus blairhedgesi is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae endemic to Cuba. It is only known from the area near its type locality, Santa Cruz del Norte in the Mayabeque Province. However, within its restricted range, it is common. It is found on limestone rocks and cliffs in coastal open areas. It is threatened by potential habitat loss associated with touristic development and oil extraction.

<i>Eleutherodactylus intermedius</i> Species of amphibian

Eleutherodactylus intermedius is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae endemic to eastern Cuba where it is known from the Sierra Maestra and Sierra del Cobre. Its common name is Pico Turquino robber frog, in reference to its type locality.

Eleutherodactylus jaumei is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. This critically endangered species is endemic to a tiny area in Sierra Maestra in southeastern Cuba, where it mostly lives in closed mesic forest.

<i>Eleutherodactylus orientalis</i> Species of amphibian

Eleutherodactylus orientalis, the Oriental robber frog or Baracoa dwarf frog, is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to the vicinity of El Yunque, Baracoa, in easternmost Cuba. Although locally common, it requires undisturbed moist forest and has a tiny range, making it critically endangered from habitat loss and degradation.

Eleutherodactylus principalis is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to eastern Cuba and found in the upland regions of Holguín and Guantánamo Provinces. Its natural habitats are mesic, closed forests at elevations of 300–1,000 m (980–3,280 ft) above sea level. It is an arboreal species that is moderately common within suitable habitat. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by mining and agriculture. It occurs in the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, but habitat loss is also occurring in the park.

Eleutherodactylus tetajulia is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to southeastern Cuba and is known from the Sierra de Cristal, Monte Iberia, Tetas de Julia, and Meseta del Toldo in the Holguín and Guantánamo Provinces. The specific name tetajulia refers to Las Tetas de Julia, a pair of prominent peaks on Monte Iberia, near the type locality of this species.

Eleutherodactylus zugi is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to western Cuba and is known from Pinar del Río and Artemisa provinces. The specific name zugi honors George Robert Zug, an American herpetologist. Common names Rosario red-legged frog and Zug's robber frog have been coined for it. Eleutherodactylus erythroproctus was originally described as a subspecies of Eleutherodactylus zugi, and is sometimes still treated as such.

Sierra del Rosario Mountain range of Cuba

Sierra del Rosario is a mountain range in the provinces of Pinar del Río and Artemisa, western Cuba. It is located in the eastern part of the Guaniguanico range and, along with the Sierra de los Órganos, is part of it.

Brazilian gold frog 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>Peltophryne</i> Genus of amphibians

Peltophryne is a genus of true toads in the family Bufonidae, from the Greater Antilles. With ten endemic species, Cuba hosts the highest diversity. Hispaniola has three endemics and Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands combined has one.

Nibujón Village in Guantánamo, Cuba

Nibujón is a Cuban village and consejo popular of the municipality of Baracoa, in Guantánamo Province. In 2011 it had a population of 3,135.

John Paul Richard Thomas is an American taxonomist and systematist, and retired professor of herpetology and evolution at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. He described several species new to science, mostly amphibians and reptiles, from throughout the Caribbean islands including the common coquí, the national animal of Puerto Rico.

References

  1. 1 2 Blair Hedges, Luis Díaz (2004). "Eleutherodactylus iberia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004: e.T56660A11500015. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T56660A11500015.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Estrada, A. R.; S. B. Hedges (1996). "At the lower size limit in tetrapods: a new diminutive frog from Cuba (Leptodactylidae: Eleutherodactylus)". Copeia. 1996: 852–859. doi:10.2307/1447647. JSTOR   1447647.
  3. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Eleutherodactylus iberia Estrada and Hedges, 1996". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "Eleutherodactylus iberia". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Frogs on all continents except Antarctica". Interesting Animals. Fascinating facts & amazing stories. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
  6. ↑ "10 Smallest Frogs and Toads in the World". gonefroggin.com. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  7. ↑ Rodríguez, A.; R. Alonso; J.A. Rodríguez; M. Vences (2012). "Geographic distribution, colour variation and molecular diversity of miniature frogs of the Eleutherodactylus limbatus group from Cuba". Salamandra. 48 (2): 71–91.
  8. 1 2 Walters, Mark Jermoe (May 1997). "Spotting the smallest frog: as hopes fades for one species, a tiny frog comes into view – discovery of Eleutherodactylus iberia". Animals. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2007.
  9. ↑ US NSF – News – Biotic Surveys Program Uncovers Smallest Frog, Frontiers, September 1997
  10. ↑ Global Amphibian Assessment – Detailed Report Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ Rodríguez Gómez, Ariel; Alonso, Roberto (2000). "Threatened Amphibians of Cuba". FrogLog. 37: 5–6.
  12. ↑ InfoNatura – Detailed Report [ dead link ]
  13. ↑ A-Z-Animals.com. "Monte Iberia Eleuth" . Retrieved 23 April 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.