Pinocchio frog

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Pinocchio frog
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Litoria
Species:
L. pinocchio
Binomial name
Litoria pinocchio

The Pinocchio frog or northern Pinocchio treefrog (Litoria pinocchio) is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. [1] [2] [3] [4] It was discovered in the Foja Mountains of Papua Province in Indonesia by Conservation International and the National Geographic Society during a 2008 expedition, where it was accidentally spotted by Paul Oliver, a herpetologist. [5] [6] [7] Despite being discovered in 2008, it remained undescribed and was long known simply as the "Pinocchio frog" (with no given scientific name) until 2019, when it was finally described as Litoria pinocchio. [4] The frog is named for its Pinocchio-like nose, which can enlarge and inflate in certain situations. [3] Although unusual, a similar nose is found in several other related frogs from New Guinea, including L. chrisdahli , L. havina , L. mareku , L. mucro , L. pronimia and L. prora . [4]

Ecology and behavior

As a part of the subfamily Pelodryadinae, the Pinocchio frog's diet consists primarily of insects. They are also found high above ground, according to Paul Oliver. He believes this because when he spotted the frog, he did not see any more so he supposed they were up in the trees. [7] The male Pinocchio frog inflates its nose when calling, and the nose decreases in size when the frog is calm and quiet. [2] [5] [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Litoria</i> Genus of amphibians

Litoria is a genus of hylid tree frogs, sometimes collectively referred to as Australasian treefrogs.

The Barabuna tree frog is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae.

The Wendessi tree frog is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae.

The Moaif tree frog is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae, endemic to West Papua, Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Djoko Tjahjono Iskandar is an Indonesian herpetologist who studies the amphibians of Southeast Asia and Australasia. He is a professor of biosystematics and ecology at Bandung Institute of Technology in West Java, Indonesia.

Litoria bibonius is a species of frog of the subfamily Pelodryadinae.

Litoria chrisdahli is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea.

Nyctimystes dux is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. This fairly large tree frog is mainly green. It is endemic to the Huon Peninsula in Papua New Guinea. It was separated from Litoria graminea by Richards & Oliver, 2006.

Litoria hilli is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is endemic to the Tagula Island of Papua New Guinea.

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

Pelodryadinae, also known as Australian treefrogs, is a subfamily of frogs found in the region of Australia and New Guinea, and have also been introduced to New Caledonia, Guam, New Zealand, and Vanuatu.

The montane Pinocchio frog is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is endemic to New Guinea. Scientists saw it on Hides Ridge in the karstic area of the Southern Fold Mountains in Papua New Guinea. Like the Pinocchio frog, it has a protuberance on its snout that can grow or shrink.

Nyctimystes hunti is a species of tree frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is endemic to northern Papua New Guinea. Scientists have seen it only in Utai, Sanduan Province, but predict that also lives elsewhere on New Guinea.

Litoria gasconi is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is endemic to New Guinea.

Nyctimystes sauroni is a species of tree frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea. Scientists know it solely from the Kikori Integrate Conservation and Development Project area.

Ranoidea robinsonae is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae, endemic to Papua New Guinea.

Litoria haematogaster, also known as the red-bellied tree frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It was described in 2023 by Australian herpetologist Stephen Richards and his colleagues Stephen Donnellan and Paul Oliver. The specific epithet haematogaster comes from the Greek haema (‘blood’) and gaster (‘belly’), with reference to the frog's bright red abdomen.

Litoria daraiensis, also known as the Darai Plateau tree frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It was described in 2023 by Australian herpetologist Stephen Richards and his colleagues Stephen Donnellan and Paul Oliver. The specific epithet daraiensis refers to the type locality.

Litoria lisae, also known as Lisa's tree frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It was described in 2023 by Australian herpetologist Stephen Richards and his colleagues Stephen Donnellan and Paul Oliver. Both the common name and the specific epithet lisae refer to Stephen Richards' wife.

Litoria gracilis, also known as the slender spotted tree frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It was described in 2023 by Australian herpetologist Stephen Richards and his colleagues Stephen Donnellan and Paul Oliver.

Litoria naispela, also known as the Crater Mountain treehole frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It was described in 2023 by Australian herpetologist Stephen Richards and his colleagues Stephen Donnellan and Paul Oliver. The specific epithet naispela is a Tok Pisin term meaning ‘beautiful’ or ‘attractive’.

References

  1. "Litoria pinocchio". amphibiaweb.org. AmphibiaWeb. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  2. 1 2 Newscientist.com
  3. 1 2 "Wild Fact #125 - The Nosey Frog - Long-Nosed Tree Frog". Wild Facts. 14 January 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 Richards, Stephen J.; Mumpuni, Mumpuni; Günther, Rainer; Oliver, Paul M. (2019-05-14). "Systematics of New Guinea treefrogs (Litoria: Pelodryadidae) with erectile rostral spikes: an extended description of Litoria pronimia and a new species from the Foja Mountains". Zootaxa. 4604 (2): 335–348. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4604.2.6. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   31717193. S2CID   181852228.
  5. 1 2 "New bat, gecko, pigeon identified in Papua". 17 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  6. 1 2 "'Pinocchio' Frog and 'Gargoyle' Gecko Discovered". Live Science . 17 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  7. 1 2 "New Species Found in "Lost World": Pinocchio Frog, More". National Geographic. May 18, 2010. Archived from the original on May 19, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2016.