Ranoidea mira

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Ranoidea mira
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Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Ranoidea
Species:
R. mira
Binomial name
Ranoidea mira
Oliver, Rittmeyer, Torkkola, Donnellan, Dahl & Richards, 2021 "2020"

Ranoidea mira, also known as the chocolate frog, is a species of tree frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae, and is part of the Ranoidea caerulea species complex. [1] [2] It was discovered in New Guinea by a research team led by Griffith University. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

It is likely that both the chocolate frog and the Australian green tree frog were derived from a common ancestor when Australia and New Guinea were linked by land about 2.6 million years ago. [6] [7] It was named mira (meaning surprised or strange in Latin) because of the surprising nature of the discovery, and its chocolate-brown skin. [8] [9] [10]

Description

Ranoidea mira bears a close resemblance with the Australian green tree frog. They both look similar apart from their skin color. Ranoidea mira has a combination of webbing on hand, large size, limbs that are relatively short and robust as well as small violet patch of skin present on the edges of its eyes. It is a little smaller than the Australian green tree frog, at between 7 cm and 8 cm when fully mature. [4] [11] [12]

Distribution and habitat

Ranoidea mira is endemic to New Guinea. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Litoria</i> Genus of amphibians

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian green tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

The Australian green tree frog, also known as simply green tree frog in Australia, White's tree frog, or dumpy tree frog, is a species of tree frog native to Australia and New Guinea, with introduced populations in the United States and New Zealand, though the latter is believed to have died out. It is morphologically similar to some other members of its genus, particularly the magnificent tree frog (R. splendida) and the white-lipped tree frog (R. infrafrenata).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Growling grass frog</span> Species of amphibian

The growling grass frog, also commonly known as the southern bell frog, warty swamp frog and erroneously as the green frog, is a species of ground-dwelling tree frog native to southeastern Australia, ranging from southern South Australia along the Murray River though Victoria to New South Wales, with populations through Tasmania. This species' common names vary between states; the name southern bell frog applies in New South Wales and South Australia, growling grass frog in Victoria, and green and gold frog in Tasmania. This species has been introduced to New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desert tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

The desert tree frog, or little red tree frog, is a species of tree frog native to Australia, southern New Guinea, and Timor. It is one of Australia's most widely distributed frogs, inhabiting northern Australia, including desert regions and much of temperate eastern Australia. It is one of the few Australian tree frogs to inhabit arid, tropical, and temperate climates.

"Litoria" castanea, also known as the yellow-spotted tree frog, New England swamp frog, tablelands bell frog, or yellow-spotted bell frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is a critically endangered species of frog that is endemic to south-eastern Australia.

The spotted-thighed tree frog is a species of tree frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae, found in Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treasury Island tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

The Treasury Island tree frog is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is found in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forests, and canals and ditches. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Ranoidea</i> (genus) Genus of amphibians

Ranoidea is a genus of frogs in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. They are found in Australia, New Guinea, and two nearby groups of islands: the Maluku Islands, and the Louisiade Archipelago. The circumscription of this taxon is still controversial.

The parachuting frog, or pale-eyed parachuting tree frog, is a species of frog found in New Guinea. It is in the Nyctimystes gramineus complex with the Pinocchio frog and montane Pinocchio frog.

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.

Mareku's tree frog is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Indonesia. Scientists have seen it in the Wondiwoi Mountains in Papua Province.

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.

Ranoidea fuscula is a species of tree frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae, endemic to Indonesia. Scientists have observed it in the Derewo River Basin in Papua Province, at 1890 meters above sea level.

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

Litoria aplini, or Aplin's tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae endemic to Papua New Guinea. Scientists know it exclusively from the type locality: the upper reaches of the Sepik River in Sandaun Province.

Litoria amnicola, the Raja Ampat torrent tree frog, is a frog in the family Hylidae, endemic to Indonesia. It has been found on Salawati Island, which is in the Raja Ampat archipelago.

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. Hutchins, Colin. "A new chocolate frog reveals ancient links between Australia & New Guinea". news.griffith.edu.au. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  2. "Ranoidea mira (Oliver, Rittmeyer, Torkkola, Dahl, Donnellan & Richards, 2021 "2020") | Amphibian Species of the World". amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 Oliver, Paul M.; Rittmeyer, Eric N.; Torkkola, Janne; Donnellan, Stephen C.; Dahl, Chris; Richards, Stephen J. (2020). "Multiple trans-Torres Strait colonisations by tree frogs in the Litoria caerulea group, with the description of a new species from New Guinea". Australian Journal of Zoology. 68 (1): 25. doi:10.1071/ZO20071. hdl: 10072/404938 . ISSN   0004-959X. S2CID   235258302.
  4. 1 2 "Australian scientist discovers 'chocolate frog' in New Guinea swamps". The Guardian . 28 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  5. Anderson, Natali (28 May 2021). "New Frog Species from New Guinea Has 'Lovely Chocolate Coloring'". Sci-News. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  6. "Litoria Mira real life version of chocolate frog found all you need to know about it". The Financial Express . 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  7. Amy Woodyatt. "Scientists discover new 'chocolate frog' in swamp". CNN. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  8. Woodyatt, Amy (29 May 2021). "Scientists discover new 'chocolate frog' in swamp". CNN . Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  9. Nath, Dipanita. "2 June 2021". Indian express . Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  10. "Adorable New Chocolate Frog Species Discovered, But You Definitely Shouldn't Eat It". IFLScience. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  11. "Meet 'chocolate frog': This newly discovered species is straight out of Harry Potter world". India Today. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  12. "New (And Very Cute) 'Chocolate Frog' Species Identified By Scientists". HuffPost. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.