Rhombophryne

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Rhombophryne
Rhombophryne coudreaui01.jpg
Rhombophryne coudreaui
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Subfamily: Cophylinae
Genus: Rhombophryne
Boettger, 1880
Type species
Rhombophryne testudo
Boettger, 1880
Diversity
20 species

Rhombophryne is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. It is currently estimated to include more than 23 species, [1] [2] but only 20 of these are currently described. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] The common name 'diamond frog' has been proposed [10] and used [2] [7] [11] for members of this genus.

Contents

Taxonomy

The genus Rhombophryne was monotypic until 2005, containing just R. testudo Boettger, 1880. However, in 2005 Andreone et al. [12] showed that the genus Plethodontohyla was paraphyletic with respect to this genus. Several species were therefore transferred to this genus by Frost et al. in 2006, [13] Glaw and Vences in 2007, [3] and Wollenberg et al. in 2008. [14] In 2015/2016, Peloso et al. [15] re-analysed the genetic relationships of the Microhylidae using partial genomic data. They proposed the synonymy of Stumpffia with Rhombophryne because these genera were found to be paraphyletic. However, in 2016 Scherz et al. [16] re-analysed their data with new data—including osteology and external morphology. They found strong support for these groups being ecologically distinct, non-synonymous sister taxa. To accommodate this, however, they established a new genus, Anilany for a species that would otherwise have rendered Stumpffia paraphyletic. [16] These findings were supported by a subsequent study on the phylogeny of the family Microhylidae. [17]

At present at least one species group is recognised: the Rhombophryne serratopalpebrosa species group, containing R. serratopalpebrosa , R. guentherpetersi , R. coronata , R. vaventy , R. tany , R. ornata , R. regalis , and R. diadema . [6] [11] This group is recognised due to the clearly synapomorphic superciliary spines (spines above the eyes) shared by all of its members, in addition to its consistent monophyly in various phylogenetic reconstructions. [6] [11] Other species groups have yet to be established.

In early 2018, Bellati et al. moved the species Rhombophryne alluaudi to Plethodontohyla based on examination of the type material; [18] specimens in phylogenetic analyses that had been referred to as R. alluaudi in fact belong to an undescribed species of Rhombophryne. [18]

Ecomorphology

Members of the genus Rhombophryne are ecologically and morphologically diverse. The type species, R. testudo shows many specialisations to burrowing, such as a short head, [19] short limbs, and large metatarsal tubercles, [19] [20] as do its two closest relatives, R. matavy and R. coudreaui . [3] Most other species have a stout body shape which may suggest partially burrowing habits as well. [3] Rhombophryne minuta and R. longicrus by contrast have unusually long limbs, and it has been argued that they probably are more terrestrial and saltatorial than the other members of the genus. [21] Rhombophryne proportinalis is a miniaturised species, attaining an adult body size of 11–12 mm. [8] It was argued to be a proportional dwarf in its original description, based on its non-paedomorphic proportions compared to similarly sized Cophylinae frogs. [8]

Reproductive Ecology

The mating habits of most species of Rhombophryne are not known. [2] It is likely that all members of this genus engage in parental care, which is common to most members of the Cophylinae. [22] Two adult R. testudo individuals were found together with 18 putative offspring in a burrow by a stream at the edge of Lokobe Reserve on Nosy Be, at the end of the dry season. [23] This is the only direct evidence of reproductive behaviour in this genus. So far, the advertisement calls of eight species have been published: R. botabota , [2] R. minuta , [24] R. mangabensis , [25] R. matavy , [4] R. testudo , [24] R. nilevina , [7] R. coronata , [26] and R. proportionalis. [8] Most of their calls are honking sounds emitted after quite long intervals, but R. minuta emits paired notes, and R. proportionalis emits series of 9–17 notes.

Species

Related Research Articles

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Paroedura is a genus of geckos, endemic to Madagascar and the Comoros. These geckos are typically terrestrial, though the young of most species can climb until they are too heavy for their feet to support.

<i>Uroplatus</i> Genus of lizards

Uroplatus is a genus of geckos, commonly referred to as leaf-tail geckos or flat-tailed geckos, which are endemic to Madagascar and its coastal islands, such as Nosy Be. They are nocturnal, insectivorous lizards found exclusively in primary and secondary forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microhylidae</span> Family of amphibians

The Microhylidae, commonly known as narrow-mouthed frogs, are a geographically widespread family of frogs. The 683 species are in 57 genera and 11 subfamilies.

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

Cophylinae is a subfamily of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. It has over 100 species in eight genera. Members of this subfamily range from minute to fairly large, and they are highly ecologically diverse. DNA barcode research has revealed a significant taxonomic gap in this subfamily, and an estimated 70+ candidate species were identified. Many of these have subsequently been described, as well as numerous new discoveries.

<i>Cophyla</i> Genus of amphibians

Cophyla is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar.

<i>Anodonthyla</i> Genus of amphibians

Anodonthyla is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. Molecular data suggest that it is the sister taxon to all other species in the subfamily Cophylinae.

<i>Plethodontohyla</i> Genus of amphibians

Plethodontohyla is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar.

<i>Stumpffia</i> Genus of amphibians

Stumpffia is a genus of microhylid frogs that are endemic to Madagascar. They are mostly brown frogs that typically live among leaf litter. S. contumelia has a snout–vent length of about 8–9 mm (0.31–0.35 in), making it one of the world's smallest frogs, and several others in the genus are only slightly larger. The largest species is no more than 28 mm (1.1 in).

<i>Mantidactylus</i> Genus of amphibians

Mantidactylus is a frog genus in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. This genus is restricted to Madagascar. The genus is divided into several subgenera that form monophyletic genetic clusters and are ecologically similar.

<i>Scaphiophryne</i> Genus of frogs from Madagascar

Scaphiophryne is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. Some of the species are strikingly marked, while others are highly cryptic. They are rather plump and generally found on the ground. Several species in the genus are threatened because of habitat loss and overcollection for the international pet trade.

<i>Boophis</i> Genus of amphibians

Boophis is the only genus in the mantellid frog subfamily Boophinae. They are commonly known as bright-eyed or skeleton frogs. They show typical 'tree frog' traits, and are a good example of convergent evolution with morphologically similar species in the families Hylidae and Rhacophoridae, among others. This genus can only be found on Madagascar and Mayotte Island (Comoros).

<i>Anilany</i> Genus of amphibians

Anilany helenae is a species of frog in the microyhlid subfamily Cophylinae. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Anilany, and is endemic to central Madagascar.

<i>Gephyromantis</i> Genus of amphibians

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<i>Plethodontohyla alluaudi</i> Species of amphibian

Plethodontohyla alluaudi is a frog belonging to the Madagascar-endemic subfamily Cophylinae of the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to southeastern Madagascar. It is a terrestrial and fossorial frog that occurs in rainforest, including littoral forest. Despite being locally abundant, it is a difficult frog to find.

<i>Rhombophryne serratopalpebrosa</i> Species of amphibian

Rhombophryne serratopalpebrosa is a species of frog of the Madagascar endemic microhylid subfamily Cophylinae. Genetic evidence revealed that it is a species complex, in need of resolution. This work has made significant progress, and five related species have been described from this complex between 2014 and 2017. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Rhombophryne vaventy</i> Species of amphibian

Rhombophryne vaventy is a large species of frogs of the Madagascar endemic microhylid subfamily Cophylinae. It is one of the largest members of its genus.

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<i>Mini scule</i> Species of microhylid frog endemic to Madagascar

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<i>Mini ature</i> Species of frog endemic to Madagascar

Mini ature is a species of very small microhylid frog endemic to Madagascar described in 2019. The scientific name of the species refers to its size, being a pun on the word miniature. Although it measures only 14.9 mm (0.59 in) in snout–vent length, it is the largest species in its genus. The holotype of the species has a light brown back, beige sides, a dark brown underside with beige speckling that turns beige near the bottom, and a dark brown side and back of the head. It is known only from Andohahela National Park in Anosy, Madagascar. Like other species in its genus, it received media attention when first described due to the wordplay in its scientific name.

References

  1. 1 2 Vieites, D. R.; K. C. Wollenberg; F. Andreone; J. Köhler; F. Glaw; M. Vences (2009). "Vast underestimation of Madagascar's biodiversity evidenced by an integrative amphibian inventory". PNAS. 106 (20): 8267–8272. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0810821106 . PMC   2688882 . PMID   19416818.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Scherz, Mark D.; Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel; Andreone, Franco; Crottini, Angelica (2016). "Two new species of terrestrial microhylid frogs (Microhylidae: Cophylinae: Rhombophryne) from northeastern Madagascar". Salamandra. 52 (2): 91–106.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2007). A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar 3rd edition. Köln: M. Vences & F. Glaw Verlags GbR. ISBN   978-3-929449-03-7.
  4. 1 2 D'Cruze, N.; J. Köhler; M. Vences; F. Glaw (2010). "A New Fat Fossorial Frog (Microhylidae: Cophylinae: Rhombophryne) from the Rainforest of the Forêt d'Ambre Special Reserve, Northern Madagascar". Herpetologica. 66 (2): 182–191. doi:10.1655/09-008r1.1. S2CID   85378751.
  5. ↑ Scherz, Mark D.; Ruthensteiner, Bernhard; Vences, Miguel; Glaw, Frank (2014). "A new microhylid frog, genus Rhombophryne, from northeastern Madagascar, and a re-description of R. serratopalpebrosa using micro-computed tomography". Zootaxa. 3860 (6): 547–560. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3860.6.3. PMID   25283290.
  6. 1 2 3 Scherz, Mark D.; Ruthensteiner, Bernhard; Vieites, David R.; Vences, Miguel; Glaw, Frank (2015). "Two new microhylid frogs of the genus Rhombophryne with superciliary spines from the Tsaratanana Massif in northern Madagascar". Herpetologica. 71 (4): 310–321. doi:10.1655/HERPETOLOGICA-D-14-00048. S2CID   4288333.
  7. 1 2 3 Lambert, Shea M.; Hutter, Carl R.; Scherz, Mark D. (2017-02-24). "Diamond in the rough: a new species of fossorial diamond frog (Rhombophryne) from Ranomafana National Park, southeastern Madagascar". Zoosystematics and Evolution. 93 (1): 143–155. doi: 10.3897/zse.93.10188 . ISSN   1860-0743.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Scherz, Mark D.; Hutter, Carl R.; Rakotoarison, Andolalao; Riemann, Jana C.; Rödel, Mark-Oliver; Ndriantsoa, Serge H.; Glos, Julian; Hyde Roberts, Sam; Crottini, Angelica (2019-03-27). Crowther, Mathew S. (ed.). "Morphological and ecological convergence at the lower size limit for vertebrates highlighted by five new miniaturised microhylid frog species from three different Madagascan genera". PLOS ONE. 14 (3): e0213314. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1413314S. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213314 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   6436692 . PMID   30917162.
  9. ↑ Scherz, Mark D. (2020-06-15). "Diamond frogs forever: a new species of Rhombophryne Boettger, 1880 (Microhylidae, Cophylinae) from Montagne d'Ambre National Park, northern Madagascar". Zoosystematics and Evolution. 96 (2): 313–323. doi: 10.3897/zse.96.51372 . ISSN   1860-0743.
  10. ↑ "Digging to Diamonds: common names in taxonomy and outreach". Mark D. Scherz, MSc. 2015-05-13. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  11. 1 2 3 Scherz, Mark D.; Hawlitschek, Oliver; Andreone, Franco; Rakotoarison, Andolalao; Vences, Miguel; Glaw, Frank (2017). "A review of the taxonomy and osteology of the Rhombophryne serratopalpebrosa species group (Anura: Microhylidae) from Madagascar, with comments on the value of volume rendering of micro-CT data to taxonomists". Zootaxa. 4273 (3): 301–340. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4273.3.1. PMID   28610237.
  12. ↑ Andreone, Franco; Vences, Miguel; Vieites, David R.; Glaw, Frank; Meyer, Axel (2005). "Recurrent ecological adaptations revelaed through a molecular analysis of the secretive cophyline frogs of Madagascar". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 34 (2): 315–322. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.10.013. PMID   15619444.
  13. ↑ Frost, D .R.; Grant, T.; Faivovich, J.; Bain, R. H.; Haas, A.; Haddad, C. F. B.; de Sá, R. O.; Channing, A.; Wilkinson, M.; Donnellan, S.C.; Raxworthy, C. J.; Campbell, J. A.; Blotto, B. L.; Moler, P.; Drewes, R. C.; Nussbaum, R. A.; Lynch, J. D.; Green, D. M.; Wheeler, W. C. (2006). "The Amphibian Tree of Life". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 297: 1–370. doi: 10.1206/0003-0090(2006)297[0001:TATOL]2.0.CO;2 . S2CID   86140137.
  14. ↑ Wollenberg, K. C.; Vieites, D. R.; van der Meijden, A.; Glaw, F.; Cannatella, D. C.; Vences, M. (2008). "Patterns of endemism and species richness in Malagasy cophyline frogs support a key role of mountainous areas for speciation". Evolution. 62 (8): 1890–1907. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.2008.00420.x. PMID   18485110. S2CID   205781693.
  15. ↑ Peloso, P. L. V.; Frost, D. R.; Richards, S. J.; Rodrigues, M. T.; Donnellan, S.; Matsui, M.; Raxworhty, C. J.; Biju, S. D.; Lemmon, E. M.; Lemmon, A. R.; Wheeler, W. C. (2016). "The impact of anchored phylogenomics and taxon sampling on phylogenetic inference in narrow-mouthed frogs (Anura, Microhylidae)". Cladistics. 32 (2): 113–140. doi: 10.1111/cla.12118 . PMID   34732021. S2CID   84925667.
  16. 1 2 Scherz, Mark D.; Vences, Miguel; Rakotoarison, Andolalao; Andreone, Franco; Köhler, Jörn; Glaw, Frank; Crottini, Angelica (2016). "Reconciling molecular phylogeny, morphological divergence and classification of Madagascan narrow-mouthed frogs (Amphibia: Microhylidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 100: 372–381. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2016.04.019. PMID   27085671.
  17. ↑ Tu, Na; Yang, MengHua; Liang, Dan; Zhang, Peng (September 2018). "A large-scale phylogeny of Microhylidae inferred from a combined dataset of 121 genes and 427 taxa". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 126: 85–91. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2018.03.036. PMID   29649581. S2CID   5023319.
  18. 1 2 Bellati, Adriana; Scherz, Mark D.; Megson, Steven; Roberts, Sam Hyde; Andreone, Franco; Rosa, Gonçalo M.; Noël, Jean; Randrianirina, Jasmin E.; Fasola, Mauro (2018-02-02). "Resurrection and re-description of Plethodontohyla laevis (Boettger, 1913) and transfer of Rhombophryne alluaudi (Mocquard, 1901) to the genus Plethodontohyla (Amphibia, Microhylidae, Cophylinae)". Zoosystematics and Evolution. 94 (1): 109–135. doi: 10.3897/zse.94.14698 . ISSN   1860-0743.
  19. 1 2 Moen, Daniel S.; Morlon, Hélène; Wiens, John J. (2016-01-01). "Testing Convergence Versus History: Convergence Dominates Phenotypic Evolution for over 150 Million Years in Frogs". Systematic Biology. 65 (1): 146–160. doi: 10.1093/sysbio/syv073 . ISSN   1063-5157. PMID   26454873.
  20. ↑ Emerson, Sharon B. (1976-08-01). "Burrowing in frogs". Journal of Morphology. 149 (4): 437–458. doi:10.1002/jmor.1051490402. ISSN   1097-4687. PMID   30257534. S2CID   52845429.
  21. ↑ Scherz, Mark D.; Rakotoarison, Andolalao; Hawlitschek, Oliver; Vences, Miguel; Glaw, Frank (2015). "Leaping towards a saltatorial lifestyle? An unusually long-legged new species of Rhombophryne (Anura, Microhylidae) from the Sorata massif in northern Madagascar" (PDF). Zoosystematics and Evolution. 91 (2): 105–114. doi: 10.3897/zse.91.4979 .
  22. ↑ Blommers-Schlösser, Rose M. A. (1975). "Observations on the larval development of some Malagasy frogs, with notes on their ecology and biology (Anura: Dyscophinae, Scaphiophryninae, and Cophylinae)". Beaufortia. 24: 7–26.
  23. ↑ Köhler, Jörn; Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel. "Notes on the reproduction of Rhombophryne testudo (Anura: Microhylidae) at Nosy Be, northern Madagascar". Revue Français d'Aquariologie. 24 (1–2): 53–54.
  24. 1 2 Vences, M.; Glaw, F.; Marquez, R. (2006). The Calls of the Frogs of Madagascar. 3 Audio CD's and booklet. Madrid, Spain: Foneteca Zoológica. p. 44.
  25. ↑ Glaw, Frank; Köhler, Jörn; Vences, Miguel (2010). "A new fossorial frog, genus Rhombophryne, from Nosy Mangabe Special Reserve, Madagascar". Zoosystematics and Evolution. 86 (2): 235–243. doi:10.1002/zoos.201000006.
  26. ↑ Vences, Miguel; Glaw, Frank; Douglas, M. E. (2003). "New Microhylid Frog (Plethodontohyla) with a Supraocular Crest from Madagascar". Copeia. 2003 (4): 789–793. doi:10.1643/ha02-285.1. S2CID   44182428.
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