Rock skipper

Last updated

Rock skipper
Sabah Splash Frog imported from iNaturalist photo 40817465 on 18 April 2022.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ranidae
Genus: Staurois
Species:
S. latopalmatus
Binomial name
Staurois latopalmatus
(Boulenger, 1887)
Synonyms

Ixalus latopalmatusBoulenger, 1887 [2]

The rock skipper (Staurois latopalmatus), also known as Sabah splash frog, is a frog in the family Ranidae. [3] It is endemic to northern and western Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia). [1] [3]

Contents

Description

Staurois latopalmatus is a medium-sized frog: males grow to a snout–vent length of about 50 mm (2.0 in) and females to 70 mm (2.8 in). It has strong legs and is an excellent jumper. [4]

The original species description by George Albert Boulenger from 1887 is as follows: [2]

Snout very short, broadly rounded, obliquely truncate at the end, with nearly vertical, concave lores; eyes large; interorbital space as broad as the upper eyelid; tympanum very small, not very distinct. Fingers short, dilated into enormous disks, the width of which equals three fourths the width of the eye; a broad web, is it omnivoreighter cross bands; hinder side of thighs blackish, speckled with whitish; lower surfaces whitish.

Habitat and conservation

Staurois latopalmatus is most common in primary lowland rainforests; it perches on vertical rock faces in or near rapids in clear, swift, rocky streams. [1] Male frogs call during the night from boulders. [4] S. latopalmatus is commonly found across Borneo, along with related species Staurois parvus and Staurois Guttatus . This species can be locally very abundant and can also occur in disturbed areas close to primary forests. It is considered as being of "Least Concern" by the IUCN, although deforestation remains a threat. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Staurois</i> Genus of amphibians

Staurois is a small genus of minuscule true frogs. Most species in the genus are restricted to Borneo, but two species are from the Philippines. This genus is a quite ancient member of the true frog family, Ranidae. They are typically found in or near rapidly flowing, small rocky streams, and are sometimes known as splash frogs or foot-flagging frogs. The latter name refers to their unusual behavior of conspicuously waving their hindlegs and feet, as a way of signalling other members of the species. Similar behavior has also been documented in other frog genera, notably Hylodes and Micrixalus.

<i>Micrixalus fuscus</i> Species of amphibian

Micrixalus fuscus is a species of small frog found in dense forested hill streams in the Western Ghats of India. M. herrei was formerly synonymized within this species.

<i>Hyla annectans</i> Species of amphibian

Hyla annectans is a species of tree frog in the family Hylidae. It is found in Asia south of the Himalayas in northeast India, northern Myanmar, and northern montane Vietnam and southwestern and central China. There are isolated records in northwestern Thailand and adjacent Myanmar. There is uncertainty whether Hyla gongshanensis from China should be recognized as a distinct species. This widespread species has many common names: Jerdon's tree frog, Assam treefrog, Indian hylid frog, green leave frog, or Southwestern China treefrog.

<i>Scotobleps</i> Genus of amphibians

Scotobleps is a monotypic frog genus in the family Arthroleptidae; its sole species is Scotobleps gabonicus, sometimes known as the Gaboon forest frog or Gabon forest frog. It is found in eastern Nigeria, western and southwestern Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, western Gabon, western Republic of the Congo, and western Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its range could extend into the Cabinda Enclave of Angola.

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

The Tai forest tree frog is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in Liberia, southern Ivory Coast, and Ghana. Records from Nigeria are controversial and may refer to other species, possibly Leptopelis boulengeri.

Pristimantis polemistes is a species of frogs in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to Colombia and only known from the vicinity of its type locality in Urrao, Antioquia Department, on the western flank of the Cordillera Occidental. The specific name polemistes is Greek for "warrior" and refers to the insurgents that operated in the area of the type locality.

Microhyla borneensis, also known as the Matang narrow-mouthed frog, is a species of microhylid frog found in the Matang Range in Sarawak, Borneo. It was once the smallest known frog from the Old World. Adult males of this species have a snout-vent length (SVL) of 10.6–12.8 mm (0.42–0.50 in), but adult males can reach a maximum of 13 mm (0.51 in),and adult females of this species have a snout-vent length of 16–19 mm (0.63–0.75 in), Tadpoles measure just 3 mm.

<i>Limnonectes palavanensis</i> Species of frog

Limnonectes palavanensis is a species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. It is found in the Palawan Island and in Borneo. The species shows paternal care, a relatively rare trait in frogs.

<i>Meristogenys jerboa</i> Species of frog

Meristogenys jerboa is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to western Sarawak in Borneo. Common names western torrent frog, Matang torrent frog, and Gunther's Borneo frog have been coined for it. Many cryptic species have been separated from this species. Based on mitochondrial DNA, current "true" Meristogenys jerboa still includes two major lineages. However, because the lineages occur in sympatry and do not differ in morphology, Shimada and colleagues elected to treat them as intraspecific variants.

Meristogenys macrophthalmus is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to Sarawak in northern Borneo (Malaysia) and is only known from its type locality in the Bintulu District. The specific name macrophthalmus is derived from the Greek words macros (="large") and ophthalmos (="eye") and refers to the large eyes of this frog. Common names Matsui's Borneo frog, large-eyed torrent frog, and big-eyed torrent frog have been coined for it.

Meristogenys whiteheadi is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to Borneo and found in both Indonesia (Kalimantan) and Malaysia. Meristogenys stigmachilus and Meristogenys stenocephalus, described as new species in 2011, were formerly included in this species. Owing to the difficulty of distinguishing these species under field conditions, the exact range of this species is uncertain. Its common name is Whitehead's Borneo frog or Whitehead's torrent frog.

<i>Nannophrys guentheri</i> Extinct species of amphibian

Nannophrys guentheri is an extinct species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. It was endemic to Sri Lanka. The species was first identified in 1882 by George Boulenger and named after the German-born British zoologist Albert Günther. It is not known where in Sri Lanka the specimens were found.

Ptychadena wadei is a species of frog in the family Ptychadenidae. It is endemic to Ethiopia and only known from a small area southeast of Lake Tana, in the upper reaches of the Blue Nile. The specific name wadei honours Edward O.Z. Wade, an English illustrator and herpetology enthusiast who drew some of the illustrations accompanying the species description. Common name Wade's grass frog has been coined for it.

<i>Humerana oatesii</i> Species of frog

Humerana oatesii is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to Burma. This species is only known from type series collected from "near Toungoo" in the Pegu Range. The specific name oatesii honours Eugene W. Oates, English civil servant and naturalist who collected the type series. However, the common name Toungoo frog has been proposed for it.

<i>Staurois tuberilinguis</i> Species of amphibian

Staurois tuberilinguis is a semi-aquatic amphibian of the true frog family (Ranidae). This diurnal and crepuscular frog is also commonly associated with its very close relative Staurois parvus. In fact, many do not consider the two species to be taxonomically separate. This species is commonly found within the tropical rainforests of on Borneo, Malaysia next to fast-flowing rivers and streams. Due to the frog’s noisy choice of habitat, S. parvus are well-known for their multi-modal system of communication that combines acoustic calls with visual display signals. S. parvus seems to be in decline in part of its range, but overall is listed as being of "least concern" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is threatened by habitat loss, especially by deforestation and sedimentation of streams.

<i>Polypedates colletti</i> Species of frog

Polypedates colletti is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is found in the Malay Peninsula, southern Vietnam, Borneo, Sumatra, and islands of the South China Sea.

<i>Polypedates otilophus</i> Species of amphibian

Polypedates otilophus is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to Borneo where it is widespread and found in Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia, typically in the lowlands but sometimes as high as 1,100 m (3,600 ft) above sea level. This species has prominent, sharp ridges behind the eye, above the ear, referred to in its names.

<i>Philautus everetti</i> Species of frog

Philautus everetti is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae found in the Philippines and Malaysia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and rivers. In Borneo, this species occurs in the mountainous area from Gunung Kinabalu National Park in Sabah to Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak. It is usually observed between 750 and 1800 meters above sea level, but it is rarely seen as low as 300 meters above sea level.

Leptomantis gauni is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to Borneo and is found in Sabah and central Sarawak (Malaysia), Brunei, and north-eastern Kalimantan (Indonesia). The specific name gauni honours Gaun Sureng, a collector for the Sarawak Museum and a companion to Robert F. Inger on field trips when this species was observed. Common names short-nosed tree frog and Inger's flying frog have been coined for it.

<i>Feihyla kajau</i> Species of frog

Feihyla kajau, also known as the Dring's flying frog, white-eared tree frog, and white-eared jelly-nest frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to Borneo and found in all major jurisdictions of the island Kalimantan (Indonesia), Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia), and Brunei. The specific name kajau is Berawan for "charming".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2018). "Staurois latopalmatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T58761A114924500. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T58761A114924500.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Boulenger, G. A. (1887). "On new reptiles and batrachians from North Borneo" (PDF). Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Series 5. 20 (116): 95–97. doi:10.1080/00222938709460016.
  3. 1 2 Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Staurois latopalmatus (Boulenger, 1887)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  4. 1 2 Haas, A.; Hertwig, S.T.; Das, I. (2014). "Staurois latopalmatus (Rock Skipper)". Frogs of Borneo. Retrieved 12 November 2014.