Phrynobatrachus cricogaster

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Phrynobatrachus cricogaster
Phrynobatrachus cricogaster01.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Phrynobatrachidae
Genus: Phrynobatrachus
Species:
P. cricogaster
Binomial name
Phrynobatrachus cricogaster
Perret  [ fr ], 1957

Phrynobatrachus cricogaster is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is found in the mountains of western Cameroon and southeastern Nigeria. Common name Nkongsamba river frog has been coined for it. [1] [2] [3] The specific name cricogaster is derived from the Greek krikos for "ring" and gaster for "belly", in reference to the prominent ring pattern on its venter. [3] Frogs in the family Phrynobatrachidae are also known as puddle frogs, since they are often found near puddles in sub-Saharan Africa. [4]

Contents

Description

Adult males measure 20–24 mm (0.8–0.9 in) and adult females 30–32 mm (1.2–1.3 in) in snout–vent length. The body is moderately slim. The snout is blunt. The tympanum is distinct. The fingers are blunt, hardly dilated, and have no webbing. The toes are slightly but clearly dilated in discs and are three-quarters webbed. The dorsum is brown-black and uniform or with some large brown-red scapular spots. The hind limbs have brown red bars. The venter is cream. Throat is grey and has a cream-coloured median spot near the chest. The belly bears a small central dark circle, possibly with a white center, which is and surrounded by a complete or incomplete circle touching the chest and groin. Males have a subgular vocal sac, and the gular area may be very dark. [3]

Ventral view, with the characteristic "bull's-eye" pattern prominently visible Phrynobatrachus cricogaster04.jpg
Ventral view, with the characteristic "bull's-eye" pattern prominently visible

Habitat and conservation

Phrynobatrachus cricogaster occurs in submontane and montane primary and secondary forest, degraded forest, and dense brush at elevations of 850–1,850 m (2,790–6,070 ft) above sea level. Breeding takes place in still pools along mountain streams. It can be locally abundant (i.e., on Mount Manengouba), but the overall population is likely to have been decreasing. It is threatened by agricultural expansion, logging, and human settlements, particularly when these activities cause its habitat to be markedly opened up. It is found in the Cross River National Park in Nigeria. [1]

Related Research Articles

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Phrynobatrachus ogoensis is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is endemic to Gabon and is known from its type locality, Lambaréné in the Moyen-Ogooué Province and from the Ramba Village in the Ogooué-Ivindo Province, in the buffer zone of the Lopé National Park.

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

Phrynobatrachus parvulus is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is widely distributed in the upland areas of Central and East Africa in Angola, northern Botswana, northern Zimbabwe, Zambia, southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Tanzania. However, many identifications are problematic, and the taxonomic status of this species with respect to Phrynobatrachus mababiensis and P. ukingensis requires clarification; in the more inclusive species delimitation applied by the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, also Uganda is tentatively included in the range of this species. Common names Loanda river frog, dwarf puddle frog, and little puddle frog have been proposed for this species.

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

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Phrynobatrachus rungwensis is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is found in southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, central and northern Malawi, and east to southern and central Tanzania. It is also expected to occur in northeastern Zambia. Common names Rungwe puddle frog and Rungwe river frog have been coined for it. It is named after Mount Rungwe, its type locality.

Phrynobatrachus steindachneri is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is found in western Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. The specific name steindachneri honours Franz Steindachner, an Austrian herpetologist and ichthyologist. This species is also known as Steindachner's puddle frog and Steindachner's river frog.

Phrynobatrachus taiensis is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is endemic to Ivory Coast and only known from its type locality, Taï Forest in the Taï National Park. There are concerns about taxonomic validity of this species. Common name Tai river frog has been coined for it.

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<i>Phrynobatrachus jimzimkusi</i> Species of amphibian

Phrynobatrachus jimzimkusi is a species of frogs in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is found in submontane and montane regions within the Cameroon volcanic line as well as the adjacent Obudu Plateau in the southeast of Nigeria. It is named after James (Jim) Zimkus by his wife, Breda Zimkus, the first author of the species description. Common name Jim Zimkus' puddle frog has been proposed for this species.

References

  1. 1 2 3 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2017). "Phrynobatrachus cricogaster". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T58103A16928501. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T58103A16928501.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Phrynobatrachus cricogaster Perret, 1957". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Zimkus, Breda (2014). "Phrynobatrachus cricogaster Perret, 1957". African Amphibians. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  4. "Phrynobatrachidae Laurent, 1941". africanamphibians.myspecies.info. Retrieved 2024-02-13.