| Plectrohyla avia | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hylidae |
| Genus: | Plectrohyla |
| Species: | P. avia |
| Binomial name | |
| Plectrohyla avia | |
| Synonyms | |
Hyla avia(Stuart, 1952) | |
Plectrohyla avia, also known as the greater spikethumb frog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It occurs in Guatemala and Mexico and is found on the Pacific slopes of the Sierra Madre between southeastern Chiapas (Mexico) and southwestern Guatemala. [1] [3]
Plectrohyla avia is the largest member of the genus Plectrohyla, with males reaching about 90 mm (3.5 in) and females about 70 mm (2.8 in) snout–vent length. [4] It was described by Laurence Cooper Stuart in 1952 based on a single specimen. This specimen—the holotype—is an adult male that measured 86 mm (3.4 in) SVL. The tympanum is small but very distinct. There is a heavy supratympanic fold that merges with the fold-like canthus (or in less technical terms, "lateral skin folds" [4] ). The fingers have vestigial webbing whereas the toes are moderately webbed. The prepollex ("spikethumb") is simple and horny. Vocal slits are absent. [2] The teeth of the upper maxilla are long and protruding. [4]
Based on an observation from Chiapas, breeding takes place underwater and involves axillar amplexus. Male advertisement call is a brief and rapid trill. Males were observed calling underwater and from within small holes and crevices in the splash-zone of waterfalls. [4]
Natural habitats of Plectrohyla avia are cloud forests at elevations of 1,700–2,200 m (5,600–7,200 ft) above sea level. It typically occurs in vegetation along mountain streams. [1] Reproduction has been observed just at the start of the rainy season in a small pool. [4] The well-developed lateral skin folds might facilitate dermal respiration. [4]
It is an uncommon to rare species that is threatened by habitat loss (deforestation and transformation of forest to agricultural areas) as well as chytridiomycosis. [1] It might be, however, more common and widespread than currently thought, but with only a short period of activity at the beginning of the rainy season. [4]
Spikethumb frogs are a genus (Plectrohyla) of frogs in the family Hylidae found in Central America from southern Mexico through Guatemala and northern El Salvador to central and northern Honduras. A major revision of the Hylidae moved an additional 21 species to this genus from the genus Hyla. The additional species moved to Plectrohyla were identified as the Hyla bistincta group, also called the Plectrohyla bistincta group; a separate group from the initial Plectrohyla guatemalensis group. This phylogenetic classification was later revised by moving the Plectrohyla bistincta group from the genus Plectrohyla into a new genus called Sarcohyla. Meanwhile, the guatemalensis group remained in Plectrohyla. They are called spikethumb because of the spike on their thumbs, which is called a prepollex. The genus name comes from the Greek word plēktron ("spur") and hyla.
Dendropsophus marmoratus is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is found in the Amazon rainforest and montane forests in the eastern piedmont, in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, intermittent freshwater marshes, and heavily degraded former forest. "Marmoratus" in Latin means "marble," perhaps referring to the dorsal coloring pattern. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Dendropsophus robertmertensi is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is found in the Pacific lowlands of El Salvador, Guatemala, and southeastern Mexico. A separate population exists in the Cintalapa Valley in Chiapas.
Nyctimystes perimetri, also known as the archipelago big-eyed treefrog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae of the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea and currently only known from the Louisiade Archipelago, although it might also occur in the Owen Stanley Range of the mainland Papua New Guinea. It has also been suggested that the Rossel Island population might represent a distinct species.
Plectrohyla acanthodes is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is found in Guatemala and Mexico. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Sarcohyla labeculata is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to the Sierra Mixe in Oaxaca, Mexico. This species was resurrected from synonymy of Sarcohyla bistincta in 2018, while at the same time bringing Sarcohyla calthula and Sarcohyla ephemera in its synonymy. Common name Mixe streamside treefrog has been proposed for this species, whereas the common names yellow-robed treefrog and Cerro Las Flores spikethumb frog referred to the former S. calthula and S. ephemera, respectively.
Sarcohyla celata, also known as the Oaxaca treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Mexico and only known from the Sierra de Juárez in northern Oaxaca. After having not been seen after 1984, it was feared that the species might be extinct. However, the species was rediscovered in field surveys during 2011–2014 and some subpopulations are at healthy levels.
Sarcohyla cyanomma, also known as the blue-eyed aquatic treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Mexico and only known from the northern slope of Cerro Pelón, in Sierra de Juárez in northern Oaxaca. It is feared that the species might be extinct.
Plectrohyla glandulosa is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is found in Guatemala and possibly Mexico. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Plectrohyla guatemalensis, also known as the Guatemala spikethumb frog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It occurs in the highlands of the Sierra Madre from southeastern Chiapas, Mexico, and eastward through the central and southwestern highlands of Guatemala to northwestern El Salvador as well as the Sierra de Nombre de Dios in north-central Honduras. It might be a composite of more than one species.
Plectrohyla hartwegi is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is found in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas and eastern Oaxaca in Mexico, Sierra de los Cuchumatanes in western Guatemala as well as Sierra de las Minas in eastern Guatemala, and Sierra de Omoa in southwestern Honduras. It might be a composite of two or more species.
Plectrohyla matudai is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is found along the Pacific slopes from southeastern Oaxaca, Mexico, through Chiapas and south-central Guatemala ; also in the Grijalva Depression in western Guatemala and on Cerro Azul in northwestern Honduras.
Plectrohyla pokomchi is a species of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to central and eastern Guatemala and known from Sierra de Xucaneb and Sierra de las Minas at elevations of 1,400–1,900 m (4,600–6,200 ft) above sea level. Its specific name refers to the Poqomchi' people, a group of Indian people from the Guatemalan highlands. Common name Rio Sananja spikethumb frog has been coined for it.
Plectrohyla pycnochila – also known as the thicklip spikethumb frog or thick-lipped spikethumb frog – is a frog in the Hylidae family. It is endemic to Mexico and occurs in the Chiapas Highlands of central Chiapas state. Its natural habitats are pine–oak forests. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by logging and transformation of the forest to agricultural land. Chytridiomycosis might also be a threat.
Plectrohyla sagorum is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is found in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas from Chiapas (Mexico) to southwestern Guatemala, with a single record from northwestern El Salvador. Its natural habitats are cloud forests at elevations of 1,000–2,050 m (3,280–6,730 ft) above sea level. Breeding takes place in streams. It is very rare in Mexico and El Salvador but abundant at two Guatemalan sites. It is threatened by habitat loss. Chytridiomycosis might also be a threat.
Plectrohyla tecunumani is a species of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes in western Guatemala. Its specific name refers to Tecun Uman, the Guatemalan national hero. Common name cave spikethumb frog has been coined for it.
Atlantihyla panchoi, also known as the Guatemala stream frog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to eastern Guatemala and is only known from three localities in the Sierra de las Minas and Montañas del Mico ranges. The specific name panchoi honors Laurence Cooper "Don Pancho" Stuart, an American herpetologist.
Ptychohyla zophodes is a species of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Mexico and known from the Atlantic slopes of the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca in northern Oaxaca and adjacent central-western Veracruz. Before being described as a new species in 2000, it was mixed with Ptychohyla leonhardschultzei. The specific name zophodes is a Greek word meaning "dusky" or "gloomy" and refers to the distinctive dark coloration of the species as well as its cloud forest habitat. Common name gloomy mountain stream frog has been coined for it.
Sarcohyla miahuatlanensis, or the Sierra Miahuatlan spikethumb frog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Mexico and only known from its type locality near Candelaria Loxicha on the Sierra de Miahuatlán in Oaxaca.
Rheohyla is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. As currently recognized, it is monotypic, containing only Rheohyla miotympanum, also known as the small-eared hyla or small-eared treefrog. However, the nominal species likely is a complex of more than one species. It is endemic to eastern and central Mexico. The generic name refers to streams, the breeding habitat of this frog. The specific name is derived from Greek meion, a diminutive prefix, together with Greek tympanon (='drum') and refers to the small tympanum.
