Spiny giant frog

Last updated

Spiny giant frog
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Eleutherodactylidae
Genus: Eleutherodactylus
Subgenus: Pelorius
Species:
E. nortoni
Binomial name
Eleutherodactylus nortoni
Schwartz, 1976 [2]

The spiny giant frog [1] or Norton's robber frog (Eleutherodactylus nortoni) is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is named after James W. Norton who accompanied Albert Schwartz in his 1974 expedition to Hispaniola and collected the holotype. [2] [3]

Contents

Distribution

It is endemic to Hispaniola and known from the Massif de la Hotte, Massif de la Selle, and Sierra de Baoruco, occurring in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti. [4]

Description

The five adult males in the type series measure 52–66 mm (2.0–2.6 in) in snout–vent length. The colouration is green with darker green, irregular blotches. These blotches become nearly diagonal laterally. The fore- and hindlimbs have subcircular blotches; the thighs have three bars. [2]

The male advertisement call is a series of about five rising glissando trills, ending in a semi-whistle. [2]

Habitat and conservation

The species' natural habitats are sinkhole caves in upland broadleaf forest and forest remnants at elevations of 576–1,515 m (1,890–4,970 ft) above sea level. Males are calling from tall vegetation and rocks. [1] Once considered locally not rare, [2] Eleutherodactylus nortoni is now uncommon and assessed as "critically endangered".

Threats

Haiti

In Haiti, the primary threat to the environment is ongoing habitat destruction, primarily attributed to charcoal production, small-scale agriculture, and agro-industrial farming. This degradation of natural habitats is occurring even within protected areas.

Sierra de Bahoruco region of the Dominican Republic

In Sierra de Bahoruco National Park of the Dominican Republic, deforestation, driven by charcoal production and agro-industry practices, particularly for avocado cultivation. Both natural and human-induced fires are becoming more frequent, particularly in dry years. [5]

Related Research Articles

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

The Barahona rock frog, or Hispaniola dwarf robber frog, is a species of frogs in the family Eleutherodactylidae that is endemic to southern Hispaniola.

Eleutherodactylus amadeus, also known as Mozart's frog or Haitian robber frog, is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to the Massif de la Hotte, southwestern Haiti. After not having been seen after 1991, the species was reported again in 2011.

Eleutherodactylus apostates is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae endemic to the Massif de la Hotte, southwestern Haiti. It is sometimes referred to as the apostates robber frog The specific name is an allusion to its closest relatives being from northern Hispaniola, its southern distribution being an apostasy of sorts.

The false green robber frog is a species of frogs in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to the Massif de la Hotte, southwestern Haiti.

Eleutherodactylus corona is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti. The specific name corona is derived from the Latin word for "crown" and refers to the distinctive tubercles on the top of the head of these frogs. Common name Caye Paul robber frog has been coined for it.

Eleutherodactylus counouspeus, also known as Counou robber frog and yellow cave frog, is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to the Massif de la Hotte, southwestern Haiti. The specific name counouspeus refers to its type locality, Counou Bois Cave, with speus being Greek for "cave". Hedges and colleagues suggested in 2008 that it should be placed in its own monotypic subgenus, Schwartzius, reflecting its distinctiveness and honoring Albert Schwartz for "his contributions to the herpetology of the West Indies."

Eleutherodactylus eunaster is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae endemic to the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti. Its natural habitat is mesic hardwood closed-canopy forest at elevations of 575–1,300 m (1,886–4,265 ft) asl. It is an arboreal species that is moderately common in suitable habitat. It is threatened by habitat loss primarily caused by logging for charcoaling and slash-and-burn agriculture. While the species occurs in the Pic Macaya National Park, there is no active management for conservation, and habitat loss continues also in the park.

The khaki bromeliad frog or Fowler's robber frog is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae endemic to Hispaniola. It occurs in the Massif de la Selle and is known from one site in the Dominican Republic and one in Haiti. It is named after Danny C. Fowler, collector of the holotype.

The La Selle red-legged frog or Furcy robber frog is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to southern Hispaniola and occurs in both Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Specifically, it occurs on the Massif de la Selle (Haiti) to the western Baoruco Mountain Range. Its natural habitat is upland mesic pine forest, where it is usually found under rocks and logs. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by logging and agriculture. It is known from protected areas, but habitat loss continues also within those areas.

The Baoruco burrowing frog, or Cabral robber frog, is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to Hispaniola where it is found on the Tiburon Peninsula, Haiti and eastward to the Baoruco Mountain Range, Dominican Republic. Its natural habitat is closed mesic broadleaf forest, but it can also occur at shade-grown coffee and cacao plantations. It is a burrowing species. Males call from constructed underground chambers; also the eggs are laid underground. threatened by habitat loss, even within the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park.

The La Selle dusky frog or Mable's robber frog is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to Hispaniola and known from the Massif de la Selle, both in the Dominican Republic and in Haiti. Its natural habitats are mesic pine and broadleaf forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is moderately common in suitable habitat, but threatened by habitat loss caused by logging and agriculture. It is known from both La Visite National Park (Haiti) and Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, but habitat degradation is occurring in these areas too.

Eleutherodactylus lamprotes is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae endemic to the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti. Its common name is Castillon robber frog. The specific name refers to its contrasting colour patterns.

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

The southern pastel frog or Hispaniola robber frog is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to Hispaniola and known from the Massif de la Selle, both in the Dominican Republic and in Haiti. Its natural habitats are upland pine forests. Males call from the ground. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by logging and agriculture. It is known from the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, but habitat degradation is occurring in this area too.

<i>Eleutherodactylus oxyrhyncus</i> Species of frog

Eleutherodactylus oxyrhyncus is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to Hispaniola and known from the Massif de la Hotte and Massif de la Selle, occurring in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The common name is rednose robber frog.

Eleutherodactylus parabates, also known as Independencia robber frog and Neiba whistling frog, is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to Hispaniola and found along the crest of the Sierra de Neiba, near the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The specific name parabates is Greek for "transgressor" and refers to this species being the first Hispaniolan member of the "Eleutherodactylus dimidiatus species group" recorded north of the Plain of the Cul-de-Sac–Valle de Neiba.

Eleutherodactylus parapelates is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to the Massif de la Hotte in southwestern Haiti. Common names Casillon robber frog and Macaya burrowing frog have been proposed for it.

Eleutherodactylus sciagraphus is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to Haiti and only known from near its type locality at an elevation of 1,060–1,080 m (3,480–3,540 ft) asl in the Massif de la Hotte. Its specific name refers to its heavily barred hindlimbs. Its common name is Sud robber frog.

<i>Eleutherodactylus thorectes</i> Species of amphibian

Eleutherodactylus thorectes is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to Haiti and known from the Massif de la Hotte at high elevations. Specifically, it is known from Pic Macaya and Pic Formon at elevations of 1,700–2,340 m (5,580–7,680 ft) asl. Its natural habitats are closed pine montane forest and cloud forest with shrubs, tree ferns, bromeliads, and climbing bamboo. With a snout-vent length of 12–15 mm, this slightly arboreal species is one of the smallest of the world's frogs. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by charcoal logging and agriculture. It is known from the Pic Macaya National Park, but habitat degradation is occurring in the park too.

Eleutherodactylus wetmorei is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hispaniolan trogon</span> Species of bird endemic to Hispaniola

The Hispaniolan trogon is a species of bird in the family Trogonidae. It is endemic to Hispaniola in the Caribbean. It is one of the only two trogon species found in the Caribbean. It is the national bird of Haiti.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Blair Hedges, Sixto Inchaustegui, Robert Powell (2010). "Eleutherodactylus nortoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T56796A11526362. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T56796A11526362.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Schwartz, A. (1976). "Two new species of Hispaniolan Eleutherodactylus (Leptodactylidae)". Herpetologica. 32 (2): 163–171. JSTOR   3891733.
  3. Bo Beolens; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson (22 April 2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 156. ISBN   978-1-907807-44-2.
  4. Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Eleutherodactylus nortoni Schwartz, 1976". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  5. "Redlist article abut the species".