Urkuphryne

Urkuphryne
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Strabomantidae
Subfamily:	Holoadeninae
Genus:	Urkuphryne
Species:	U. merinoi
Binomial name
Urkuphryne merinoi Ortega et al., 2025

Urkuphryne, also known as the Merino leaflitter frog, is a monotypic genus of frogs in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to the Cerro Golondrinas forest area of northern Ecuador. Phylogenetic analyses have recovered Urkuphryne as the sister taxon to the smaller Phyllonastes within the subfamily Holoadeninae. ^[2] Autapomorphic characters of this taxon include reduced distal expansions of the fingers and toes and the presence of protruding vomerine teeth. Like other brachycephaloid frogs, Urkuphryne individuals mature via direct development, meaning that they do not go through metamorphosis or have tadpoles; instead, hatchlings demonstrate adult features and proportions. ^[1]

References

1. Ortega, Jhael A; Cisneros-Heredia, Diego F; Camper, Jeffrey D; Romero-Carvajal, Andrés; Negrete, Leonardo; Ron, Santiago R (2025-01-13). "Systematics of minute strabomantid frogs allocated to the genus Noblella (Amphibia: Anura) with description of a new genus, seven new species, and insights into historical biogeography". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society . 203 (1). zlae162. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae162. ISSN   0024-4082.
2. Frost, Darrel R. (2025). "Search for Taxon: Urkuphryne". Amphibian Species of the World, an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York. Retrieved 18 February 2025.