Southern torrent frog

Last updated

Southern torrent frog
Arthroleptides yakusini (4).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Petropedetidae
Genus: Arthroleptides
Species:
A. yakusini
Binomial name
Arthroleptides yakusini
Channing, Howell, and Moyer, 2002
Synonyms
  • Petropedetes yakusini(Channing, Moyer, and Howell, 2002)

The southern torrent frog (Arthroleptides yakusini) is a species of frog in the family Petropedetidae endemic to Tanzania, where it is found in the Uluguru, Udzungwa, and Mahenge Mountains. [2] Frogs from the Nguru Mountains may represent an unnamed species. [3]

Contents

A. yakusini is associated with rocky streams in montane forests. It appears to tolerate some degradation of the forest. Eggs are laid on rocks over which water is trickling, close to torrential streams and waterfalls. The larvae remain attached to the rocks, developing out of water. [1]

Taxonomy

Prior to 2002, it was thought that all Tanzanian frogs belonging to the genus Arthroleptides were part of a single species, the Usambara torrent frog (A. martiensseni). However, a study was published that year based on fieldwork conducted from 1999 to 2001 which found that individuals from the Udzungwa and Uluguru mountains were consistently distinguishable from those found in the Usambara Mountains further north (where the type specimen of the Usambara torrent frog was collected). Therefore, the southern form was described as a new species and given the scientific name Arthroleptides yakusini, with the specific name being derived from the Swahili words "ya kusini", meaning "of the south" and referencing how this species occurs south of the range of the Usambara torrent frog. The holotype specimen is an adult male collected along the Njokomoni River in Udzungwa Mountains National Park on 8 December 1995, and three other individuals collected at the same site and time were designated as paratypes. [4]

A paper published in 2005 concluded that the genus Arthroleptides is a junior synonym of Petropedetes , and therefore this species was renamed as Petropedetes yakusini. [5] However, a 2014 study resurrected the former genus as a valid taxon, thus reinstating the original scientific name of the species. The following cladogram shows the position of the southern torrent frog among its closest relatives according to said study: [6]

Distribution and habitat

Rocky stream with a waterfall in the Udzungwa Mountains Rivers of Paradise.jpg
Rocky stream with a waterfall in the Udzungwa Mountains

This species is endemic to Tanzania, where it occurs in mountain ranges from 300–2,800 m (984.3–9,186.4 ft) above sea level. [4] It was first discovered in the Uluguru and Udzungwa mountain ranges, and in 2004 it was reported to occur in the Mahenge Mountains as well. [7] Though sometimes claimed to also be found in the Nguru Mountains, [1] molecular evidence suggests this population actually represents a separate, currently unnamed species within the same genus. [8] The southern torrent frog mostly inhabits rocky streams surrounded by montane forest, with a preference for mature forest (though it may tolerate open woodland habitats more than the related Usambara torrent frog), and has an estimated extent of occurrence of 3,113.18 km2 (1,202.0 sq mi). [1] It can also occur further from these streams, with adults sometimes being found some distance away from water on the forest floor. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Callulina</i> Genus of amphibians

Callulina is a small genus of frogs in the family Brevicipitidae with nine members in Tanzania and Kenya. Originally Callulina was thought to be monotypic and widely distributed through Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania and in southern Kenya. However, within the last decade eight new species has been identified, the majority of which are considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The Uluguru mountains are a mountain range in eastern Tanzania, named after the Luguru tribe. The main portion of the Uluguru mountains is a ridge running roughly north-south and rising to 2,630 metres (8,600 ft) altitude at its highest point. On the main Uluguru range, 50 villages touch the forest boundary and over 151,000 people are found within the mountain area, often at increasing densities at higher altitudes up to the forest boundary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Arc Mountains</span> Mountain range in Kenya and Tanzania

The Eastern Arc Mountains are a chain of mountains found in Kenya and Tanzania. The chain runs from northeast to southwest, with the Taita Hills being in Kenya and the other ranges being in Tanzania. They are delimited on the southwest by the fault complex represented by the Makambako Gap that separates them from the Kipengere Range. To the northeast, they are delimited by more recent volcanism represented by Mount Kilimanjaro. The chain is considered a tentative World Heritage Site.

Nectophrynoides pseudotornieri is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the Uluguru Mountains in eastern Tanzania. Common names pseudo forest toad and false Tornier's viviparous toad have been proposed for it. Its specific name refers to its similarity to Nectophrynoides tornieri.

Nectophrynoides viviparus is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Tanzania. Common names robust forest toad and Morogoro tree toad have been coined for it.

<i>Afrixalus uluguruensis</i> Species of frog

Afrixalus uluguruensis is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. Its common name is Uluguru banana frog. It is endemic to the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and known from the Kipengere Range, Mahenge, Udzungwa Scarp, Rubeho, North Uluguru, Nguru, Ukaguru, and Nguu Mountains.

<i>Mazumbai warty frog</i> Species of amphibian

The Mazumbai warty frog is a species of frogs in the family Brevicipitidae. It is endemic to forests of the West Usambara Mountains of Tanzania where it is threatened by habitat loss. It is part of a species complex and was recognised as a separate species in 2004, having previously been included in Callulina kreffti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krefft's warty frog</span> Species of amphibian

Krefft's warty frog, or Krefft's secret frog, is a species of frog in the family Brevicipitidae. It is found in the Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania and in southern Kenya. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Du Toit's torrent frog, the Mt. Elgon torrent frog, or the Kenya rocky river frog is a species of frog in the family Petropedetidae endemic to Mount Elgon in Kenya; it has not been found on the Ugandan part of the mountain. It is one of many, often taxonomically unrelated, frogs referred to as torrent frogs.

Arthroleptides is a small genus of frogs in the family Petropedetidae. Their common name is rocky river frogs. They are found in the mountains of East Africa. They have been considered to belong to Petropedetes, which after exclusion of Arthroleptides is restricted to Central Africa.

The Usambara torrent frog, also known as Martienssen's torrent frog or Tanzania rocky river frog, is a species of frog in the family Petropedetidae. It is endemic to the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania, where it is found 200–1,000 m (656.2–3,280.8 ft) above sea level. It is one of many, often taxonomically unrelated, frogs referred to as torrent frogs. It is mostly grey brown to yellowish brown, with a lighter underside and a dark stripe extending from the nostril to the shoulder, and can grow 59 mm (2.3 in) long.

<i>Ericabatrachus</i> Genus of amphibians

Ericabatrachus is a genus of frogs in the family Ericabatrachidae endemic to the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Ericabatrachus baleensis, commonly known as the Bale Mountains frog. It was previously included in the family Petropedetidae, but has gotten its own monotypic family, Ericabatrachidae.

<i>Petropedetes</i> Genus of amphibians

Petropedetes is a genus of frogs in the family Petropedetidae, found in sub-saharan tropical Africa. In 2002, the genus absorbed all three species of the genus Arthroleptides, but they were moved back in 2014. The informally assigned common name for frogs in this genus is torrent frogs.

Petropedetes palmipes is a species of frog in the family Petropedetidae. It is known from a few localities in southwestern Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and western Gabon. Common name Efulen water frog has been coined for it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torrent frog</span> Index of animals with the same common name

Torrent frogs are a number of unrelated frogs that prefer to inhabit small rapid-flowing mountain or hill streams with a lot of torrents. They are generally smallish neobatrachians with a greyish-brown and usually darkly mottled back, giving them excellent camouflage among wet rocks overgrown with algae; their well-developed feet make them agile climbers of slippery rocks.

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

The Petropedetidae are a family of frogs containing two genera and 11 species. They are found in sub-Saharan tropical Africa and are sometimes known under common name African torrent frogs.

Phrynobatrachus uzungwensis is a species of frogs in the family Phrynobatrachidae. It is endemic to eastern Tanzania and is known from the Udzungwa, Uluguru, Nguu, and Nguru Mountains. Common names Ukinga puddle frog and Udzungwa puddle frog have been coined for this species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Arc forests</span>

The Eastern Arc forests is a montane tropical moist forest ecoregion of eastern Africa. The ecoregion comprises several separate highland areas above 800 meters in Kenya, and (mostly) Tanzania.

<i>Odontobatrachus</i> Genus of amphibians

Odontobatrachus is a genus of frogs comprising the family Odontobatrachidae. In a 2014 research project Barej, Rödel, Loader & Schmitz separated the genus from the established genus Petropedetes and separated the new family from the established family Petropedetidae.

Petropedetes euskircheni is a species of African torrent frog found in Cameroon.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Arthroleptides yakusini". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T58065A17195247. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T58065A17195247.en . Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Arthroleptides yakusini Channing, Moyer, and Howell, 2002". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Arthroleptides Nieden, 1911 "1910"". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Channing, Alan; Moyer, David; Howell, Kim (January 2002). "Description of a new torrent frog in the genus Arthroleptides from Tanzania (Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae)". Alytes. 20 (1): 13–27.
  5. Scott, Elizabeth (2005-12-20). "A phylogeny of ranid frogs (Anura: Ranoidea: Ranidae), based on a simultaneous analysis of morphological and molecular data". Cladistics. 21 (6): 507–574. doi:10.1111/j.1096-0031.2005.00079.x. ISSN   0748-3007.
  6. Barej, Michael F.; Rödel, Mark-Oliver; Loader, Simon P.; Menegon, Michele; Gonwouo, Nono L.; Penner, Johannes; Gvoždík, Václav; Günther, Rainer; Bell, Rayna C.; Nagel, Peter; Schmitz, Andreas (2014-02-01). "Light shines through the spindrift – Phylogeny of African torrent frogs (Amphibia, Anura, Petropedetidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 71: 261–273. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.11.001.
  7. Loader, Simon P.; Poynton, John C.; Mariaux, Jean (April 2004). "Herpetofauna of Mahenge Mountain, Tanzania: a window on African biogeography". African Zoology. 39 (1): 71–76.
  8. Loader, Simon P.; Ceccarelli, F. Sara; Wilkinson, Mark; Menegon, Michele; Mariaux, Jean; de Sá, Rafael O.; Howell, Kim M.; Gower, David J. (2013-04-01). "Species boundaries and biogeography of East African torrent frogs of the genus Petropedetes (Amphibia: Anura: Petropeditidae)". African Journal of Herpetology. 62 (1): 40–48. doi:10.1080/21564574.2013.781549. ISSN   2156-4574.