Synapturanus zombie

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Synapturanus zombie
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Genus: Synapturanus
Species:
S. zombie
Binomial name
Synapturanus zombie
Fouquet, Leblanc, Fabre, Rodrigues, Menin, Courtois, Dewynter, Hölting, Ernst, Peloso, and Kok  [ fr ], 2021

Synapturanus zombie is a South American species of frog in the family Microhylidae. [1]

Contents

Taxonomy

Synapturanus zombie was discovered by Raffael Ernst, a German herpetologist. He named the frog "zombie" because he thought other researchers looked like zombies after digging the frogs out of the ground. [2] It was described in 2021 by Antoine Fouquet. [3]

S. zombie is part of an eastern clade of Synapturanus , which also includes S. salseri , S. mirandaribeiroi , S. ajuricaba , and S. mesomorphus , as well as some undescribed but suspected species. [3] This eastern clade typically has a more robust humerus and a broader snout than species in the western clade. [4]

Description

Synapturanus zombie has an average snout-vent length of 39 mm in males (range 37–41 mm (1.5–1.6 in)). Females are slightly larger, with a 40 mm average SVL (range 39–42 mm (1.5–1.7 in)). This makes it the largest known species of Synapturanus frogs. [3] It has a pointed nose and a narrow mouth. [2]

The frog is medium brown on the top, and light brown on the bottom. Many orange spots are found on the skin of the frog. The glandular supracarpal pad, present in males only, is a translucent white. Yellow ovaries are able to be seen through the translucent skin of female specimens. [3] Males emit advertisement calls from underground tunnels during and after heavy rainfall. These tunnels, also called galleries, are spaced a few meters apart from each other. The mode of reproduction of the species are unknown, but likely similar to those of other Synapturanus frogs. [3]

Habitat

Synapturanus zombie live in well-drained soil in forests in French Guiana. They are nocturnal, as well as fossorial. [2] [3]

Conservation

S. zombie has not been assessed by the IUCN. [5] It is only known to live in six groups of populations in French Guiana, and one additional group in Amapá, northern Brazil. Some of these groups are in protected areas. The study in which the species was first described recommended the species be given the rating of "data deficient", because of "the uncertainties regarding its distribution and population status". [3]

Related Research Articles

<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.

<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>Choerophryne</i> Genus of amphibians

Choerophryne is a genus of microhylid frogs, commonly known as Torricelli mountain frogs, endemic to New Guinea. These frogs are small, with the body length measured from snout to vent between 11 and 23 mm.

<i>Synapturanus</i> Genus of amphibians

Synapturanus is a genus of microhylid frogs. They are found in northern South America. Common name disc frogs has been coined for the genus. Because of their fossorial life style, their natural history is poorly known.

<i>Uperodon taprobanicus</i> Species of amphibian

Uperodon taprobanicus, also known as the Sri Lankan bullfrog, Sri Lankan painted frog, Sri Lankan kaloula, Ceylon kaloula, Indian painted frog, or painted globular frog, is a species of narrow-mouthed frog found in Nepal, Bangladesh, southern and eastern India, and Sri Lanka up to an altitude of about 1300 metres. It can grow to an adult length of up to 75 millimetres(7.5 cm) long from snout to vent. It was originally described as a subspecies of Kaloula pulchra, ssp. taprobanica. The IUCN lists it as being of "Least Concern".

<i>Allobates chalcopis</i> Species of amphibian

Allobates chalcopis, also known as the Martinique volcano frog or ravine rocket frog, is a species of frog in the family Aromobatidae. It is endemic to Martinique, where it is found at high-altitude areas including Mount Pelée and potentially most of the Carbet Mountains. It is threatened by climate change, which has led to it being extirpated from the lower-lying reaches of its already-small range, and may lead to a continued population decline and range contraction.

<i>Hyperolius hypsiphonus</i> Species of frog

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Hyperolius jynx is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the Rumpi Hills in south-western Cameroon. The common name smooth egg-guarding frog has been proposed for this species.

<i>Adelophryne gutturosa</i> Species of amphibian

Adelophryne gutturosa is a species of frogs in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is found on the Guiana Shield from eastern Venezuela through Guyana to French Guiana and adjacent Brazil (Amapá), possibly extending to Suriname. Its type locality is Mount Roraima. Its local Spanish name is ranita guturosa.

<i>Pristimantis inguinalis</i> Species of frog

Pristimantis inguinalis is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is found in Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil. The type locality is New River, in the disputed area claimed by both Guyana and Suriname. Common names New River robber frog and New River South American rain frog have been coined for it.

<i>Copiula derongo</i> Species of frog

Copiula derongo is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to New Guinea and found in both Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The specific name derongo refers to its type locality, the village of Derongo in the Western Province. Based on molecular evidence, it was transferred from Austrochaperina to Copiula in 2016.

<i>Chiasmocleis bassleri</i> Species of frog

Chiasmocleis bassleri is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is found in the Amazon biome of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. The specific name bassleri honors Harvey Bassler, an American geologist and paleontologist. Common name Bassler's humming frog has been proposed for this species.

<i>Chiasmocleis hudsoni</i> Species of frog native to South America

Chiasmocleis hudsoni, also known as Hudson's humming frog, is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is found in French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Guianan Venezuela, Colombia (Amazonas), and Amazonian Brazil. Chiasmocleis jimi has been included in this species but the most recent genetic analyses support its recognition as a distinct species; both species might include further distinct lineages that warrant recognition as species.

<i>Glyphoglossus</i> Genus of amphibians

Glyphoglossus is a genus of frogs in the family Microhylidae. The genus occurs in Southeastern Asia. Common name balloon frogs has been coined for it, whereas the common name squat frogs refers to the Calluella species that are now included in this genus. They are fossorial frogs that spend only limited time on the soil surface and are typically known from only few specimens.

<i>Anomaloglossus</i> Genus of amphibians

Anomaloglossus is a genus of frogs in the family Aromobatidae. The genus is endemic to the Guiana Shield in northern South America. It used to be placed in the family Dendrobatidae, and is still placed in that family by some sources. The name of the genus, from the Greek anomalos and glossa (=tongue), refers to the unusual tongue bearing the median lingual process, the only unambiguous phenotypic synapomorphy of this genus.

<i>Amazophrynella</i> Genus of amphibians

Amazophrynella is a genus of toads in the family Bufonidae. They are found throughout the Amazon Basin.

<i>Synapturanus danta</i> Species of frog in the family Microhylidae

Synapturanus danta is a species of frog from the family Microhylidae that was described in 2022. It has an enlarged nose like that of a tapir, giving it the common name tapir frog.

Synapturanus ajuricaba is a species of microhylid frog. It is endemic to the state of Para in Brazil.

Dendropsophus counani is a frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, and Guyana.

<i>Boana diabolica</i>

Boana diabolica is a frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Brazil and French Guiana.

References

  1. Frost, Darrel R. (2024). "Synapturanus zombie Fouquet, Leblanc, Fabre, Rodrigues, Menin, Courtois, Dewynter, Hölting, Ernst, Peloso, and Kok, 2021". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.2. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001 . Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Kindy, David. "How the Newly Discovered, Mud-Loving 'Zombie' Frog Got Its Name". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Fouquet, Antoine; Leblanc, Killian; Fabre, Anne-Claire; Rodrigues, Miguel T.; Menin, Marcelo; Courtois, Elodie A.; Dewynter, Maël; Hölting, Monique; Ernst, Raffael; Peloso, Pedro; Kok, Philippe J.R. (July 2021). "Comparative osteology of the fossorial frogs of the genus Synapturanus (Anura, Microhylidae) with the description of three new species from the Eastern Guiana Shield" (PDF). Zoologischer Anzeiger. 293: 46–73. doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2021.05.003. S2CID   236599893.
  4. Fouquet, Antoine; Leblanc, Killian; Framit, Marlene; Réjaud, Alexandre; Rodrigues, Miguel T; et al. (25 January 2021). "Species diversity and biogeography of an ancient frog clade from the Guiana Shield (Anura: Microhylidae: Adelastes, Otophryne, Synapturanus) exhibiting spectacular phenotypic diversification". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 132 (2): 233–256. doi:10.1093/biolinnean/blaa204. hdl: 10261/283155 .
  5. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" . Retrieved 24 January 2024.