Parhoplophryne

Last updated

Parhoplophryne usambarica
Status iucn3.1 CR.svg
Critically endangered, possibly extinct  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Subfamily: Hoplophryninae
Genus: Parhoplophryne
Barbour and Loveridge, 1928
Species:
P. usambarica
Binomial name
Parhoplophryne usambarica
Barbour and Loveridge, 1928 [2]
Synonyms [3]
  • Parhoplophryne usambaricusBarbour and Loveridge, 1928 [2]

Parhoplophryne is a monotypic frog genus in the family Microhylidae. [4] [5] The sole species is Parhoplophryne usambarica, sometimes known as the Usambara black-banded frog or Amani forest frog. [4] [5] It is endemic to the East Usambara Mountains in Tanzania. [1] [3] It is only known from one specimen collected in the 1920s and is feared to be extinct. [1]

Contents

Description

This species is only known from the holotype, [1] a juvenile female that measured 23 mm (0.91 in) in snout–vent length. In addition, a series of tadpoles was also collected, but it is uncertain whether they belong to this species or Hoplophryne rogersi . [2]

The holotype had moderately stout general appearance, with a small head, acuminate snout, and small mouth. No tympanum is present. The fingers and toes were without any webbing. The skin was perfectly smooth (i.e., without any spinosities) but with rugose folds. Colouration was very similar to Hoplophryne rogersi, which is slatey-blue above, shading to blue-grey peripherally. A white band was running from eye to base of fore limb. The underside was white, blotched and spotted with dark brown. [2]

Habitat and conservation

The holotype was collected in a wild banana ( Ensete ) in a forested hill to the west of Amani, at approximately 900 m (3,000 ft) above sea level. [1] [3] Other information on the species' habitat and ecology is not available. [1]

Considering that many surveys undertaken in the area, without positive records, and the extent of habitat loss in the area (first by tea plantations and at present by small scale agriculture), it is possible that this species is extinct. Theoretically, it might be present in the Amani Nature Reserve, although intensive sampling has not revealed any specimens. [1]

Related Research Articles

Hoplophryne is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Tanzania.

<i>Melanobatrachus</i> Species of amphibian

Melanobatrachus is a genus of narrow-mouthed frogs in the family Microhylidae. It is the only remaining genus in the monotypic subfamily Melanobatrachinae. It contains a single species, Melanobatrachus indicus, also known as the Indian black microhylid frog and Malabar black narrow-mouthed frog. It is endemic to wet evergreen forests of southern Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu states of India. It has been recorded from Anaimalai, Munnar, Palni hills, Periyar Tiger Reserve and Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

Isthmohyla lancasteri is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to humid premontane slopes of the Cordillera de Talamanca in Costa Rica and western Panama.

Afrixalus uluguruensis is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. Its common name is Uluguru banana frog. It is endemic to the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and known from the Kipengere Range, Mahenge, Udzungwa Scarp, Rubeho, North Uluguru, Nguru, Ukaguru, and Nguu Mountains.

<i>Hyperolius mitchelli</i> Species of amphibian

Hyperolius mitchelli is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in the area between northeastern Tanzania, Malawi, and central Mozambique.

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

Leptopelis parkeri is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Tanzania and known from the Eastern Arc Mountains. Specifically, it has been recorded from Uluguru, Udzungwa, East and West Usambara, Nguru, and South Pare Mountains. Common names Parker's tree frog and Parker's forest treefrog have been coined for it. It is named after Hampton Wildman Parker, a British zoologist and herpetologist from the Natural History Museum, London.

Choerophryne variegata is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to West Papua, Indonesia, and is only known with certainty from its type locality, Digul River. It is assumed that most records from elsewhere refer to other, possibly undescribed species. As the species is only known from one specimen from its vaguely stated type locality, its ecology is essentially unknown, although it is presumed to be a rainforest inhabitant. No other specimen has been collected anywhere near the type locality. Despite all this, vernacular name common rainforest frog has been coined for it.

Austrochaperina aquilonia is a species of frogs in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to the Sandaun Province, north-western Papua New Guinea. It is only known from two nearby locations in the Torricelli Mountains: Mount Somoro and from the village of Wilbeite. The specific name aquilonia is a Latin adjective meaning "northern" and refers to the range of this species in the north coast mountains of New Guinea.

Austrochaperina kosarek is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to New Guinea and only known from its type locality, Kosarek, in West Papua (Indonesia). It is only known from one specimen collected in 1979. It has not been well-studied but it might be widespread in suitable habitat.

<i>Barygenys atra</i> Species of frog

Barygenys atra is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to eastern New Guinea and is known from the Morobe and Northern Provinces, Papua New Guinea. Common name Gunther's Papua frog has been proposed for it.

Glyphoglossus smithi, also known as Smith's squat frog or Smith's burrowing frog, is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo. However, it is likely to occur more widely than currently known and be present in Brunei and Indonesia. The specific name smithi honours Dr Harrison Willard Smith, an American scientist who collected the holotype from the Limbang River district.

<i>Cophixalus parkeri</i> Species of frog

Cophixalus parkeri is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea where it occurs in the central mountainous region between Chimbu and Morobe Provinces. The specific name parkeri presumably honours Hampton Wildman Parker, an English zoologist and herpetologist to whose perusal Arthur Loveridge sent the holotype. Common name Papua rainforest frog has been coined for it.

Cophixalus tagulensis is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea and only known from the Tagula Island in the Louisiade Archipelago, east of New Guinea. It is only known from the type series of three specimens collected in 1956.

Hoplophryne rogersi, the Tanzania banana frog, Usambara banana frog or Usambara blue-bellied frog, is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, heavily degraded former forest, and introduced vegetation. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Phrynobatrachus bequaerti</i> Species of frog

Phrynobatrachus bequaerti is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is found in the mountains of north-western Burundi, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and western Rwanda. The specific name bequaerti honours Joseph Charles Bequaert, a Belgian botanist, entomologist, and malacologist and who collected the holotype from Mount Vissoke. Common name Vissoke river frog has been coined for this species.

Phrynobatrachus gastoni is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is endemic to the north-central Democratic Republic of the Congo and only known from its type locality, Buta. The specific name gastoni honours Gaston-François de Witte, a Belgian colonial administrator and naturalist who scrutinized the types. Common name Buta river frog has been coined for it.

Pseudophilautus dimbullae is an extinct species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It was endemic to Sri Lanka. It is only known from the holotype collected in 1933.

Pseudophilautus eximius is an extinct species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It was endemic to Sri Lanka. It is only known from the holotype collected in 1933.

Pseudophilautus extirpo, known as Blunt-snouted Shrub Frog, is an extinct species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It was endemic to Sri Lanka. It is only known from the holotype collected in 1882. The specific name extirpo is Latin meaning "destroy" or "eradicate" and refers to the apparent extinction of this species.

Pseudophilautus halyi, known as Pattipola Shrub Frog, is an extinct species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It was endemic to Sri Lanka. It is only known from the holotype collected in 1899. The specific name halyi honours Amyrald Haly, the first director of the Ceylon Museum, author of the "Natural History of Ceylon", and the collector of the holotype.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2014). "Parhoplophryne usambarica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T57946A13323507. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T57946A13323507.en . Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Barbour, T.; Loveridge, A. (1928). "A comparative study of the herpetological faunae of the Uluguru and Usambara Mountains, Tanganyika Territory with descriptions of new species". Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 50: 87–265. doi: 10.5962/bhl.title.49344 .
  3. 1 2 3 Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Parhoplophryne usambarica Barbour and Loveridge, 1928". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  4. 1 2 Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Parhoplophryne Barbour and Loveridge, 1928". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Microhylidae". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.