Common tree frog

Last updated

Common tree frog
Female Polypedates leucomystax (KU 330233) from the crater of Mt. Cagua - ZooKeys-266-001-g040.jpg
Common tree frog (female)
Polyp leucom M 050408 041 ipb.jpg
Adult at Darmaga (Bogor Regency, West Java, Indonesia)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Rhacophoridae
Genus: Polypedates
Species:
P. leucomystax
Binomial name
Polypedates leucomystax
(Gravenhorst, 1829)
Synonyms
  • Hyla leucomystaxGravenhorst, 1829
  • Polypedates rugosusDuméril & Bibron, 1841
  • Polypedates teraiensis(Dubois, 1987 "1986")

Polypedates leucomystax is a species in the shrub frog family Rhacophoridae. It is known under numerous common names, including common tree frog, four-lined tree frog, golden tree frog [2] or striped tree frog. Many past authors have united it with the common Indian tree frog in P. maculatus (or Rhacophorus maculatus, as was common in older times), but today they are generally considered distinct species. In its native range, it is also called "white-lipped tree frog", but this name is otherwise applied to a species of true tree frogs (family Hylidae).

Contents

Polypedates leucomystax is not considered a threatened species by the IUCN. [1] It is in fact a species complex containing various cryptic species within it.

Range

Previously, P. leucomystex was thought to distribute below the Red River of Vietnam and in western Yunnan, while P. megacephalus can be found above the Red River and in Northeast India. [3] However, recent genetic studies revealed that the natural barriers between these species are the Isthmus of Kra and the Tenasserim Range, where P. leucomystax can be found below the isthmus and west of the range. [4]

The Polypedates leucomystax complex began diverging during the Pliocene, and spread quickly after the Pleistocene due to human activity. [4] The range of P. leucomystax has recently expanded in the Philippines and Indonesia due to the widespread conversion of forests into agricultural-use land. It is also frequently found in trans-island agricultural shipments. Lineages on the Indochina mainland are more diverse. [5]

In Indonesia, it has been found throughout the archipelago in Borneo, Mentawai, Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Bali, Lombok, Natuna Islands, Anambas Islands, Sumbawa, Sumba, Flores, and Timor, and has also been introduced to Papua. In Japan, where it has been introduced, it is found on the islands of Okinawa, Tonaki, Kurima, Miyako, Ie, Iheya, Izena, Sesoko, and Yabuchi. [1]

4 major haplotype clades of P. leucomystax have been recognized by Brown, et al. (2010), [5] with the clades other than the southern Sunda region clade likely to be cryptic species.

Divergent varieties that are either P. cf. leucomystax or P. cf. megacephalus have been found in southern China (including Hainan) and Vietnam. [5]

Habitat

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, freshwater springs, rocky shores, coastal freshwater lagoons, arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, urban areas, water storage areas, ponds, aquaculture ponds, irrigated land, seasonally flooded agricultural land, and introduced vegetation.

Description

Mating frogs with foam nest Rhacophoridae - Polypedates leucomystax.JPG
Mating frogs with foam nest

Polypedates leucomystax can reach approximately a snout–vent length of 3.7–5.0 centimetres (1.5–2.0 in) in males, of 5.7–7.5 centimetres (2.2–3.0 in) in females. [6] Body of these rather small shrub frogs is moderately slender, ovoid, slightly flattened above, with sharply pointed tail. The skin on the upper side is smooth. The body colour is rather variable, with various shades of gray, green, yellow, reddish or dark brown. Usually it is irregularly mottled, often with four stripes along the back. The tip of snout sometimes shows a distinct white spot. Eyes are at the side of the head. The hind feet are webbed. The feet have clear, large cushions as usual with leaf frogs. [7]

Biology

In the damp areas of the propagation, these frogs are present all year round. In drier environments, the period usually restricts to the beginning of the rainy season. The mating takes place at the margins of shallow pools, where the males first arrive and call the females with a distinctive loud, duck-like sound. The female places between 100 and 400 eggs in a protective foam nest that is attached to vegetation or other objects above the water surface. Mean egg diameter is 1.99mm (range of 1.9-2.1mm). [8] The eggs hatch after 3 to 4 days. The tadpoles develop inside the foam nest and then fall into the water. They develop into adult frogs in about 7 weeks.

In captivity

This species of tree frog is commonly kept in captivity in vivariums and terrariums by both hobbyists and professionals. [2]

Related Research Articles

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

The Rhacophoridae are a family of frogs that occur in tropical sub-Saharan Africa, South India and Sri Lanka, Japan, northeastern India to eastern China and Taiwan, south through the Philippines and Greater Sundas, and Sulawesi. They are commonly known as shrub frogs, or more ambiguously as "moss frogs" or "bush frogs". Some Rhacophoridae are called "tree frogs". Among the most spectacular members of this family are numerous "flying frogs".

<i>Polypedates</i> Genus of amphibians

Polypedates is a genus of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae, the shrub frogs and Paleotropic tree frogs. They belong to subfamily Rhacophorinae. Members of this genus are collectively known as whipping frogs. They occur in eastern and southern Asia.

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

Polypedates megacephalus, the Hong Kong whipping frog or spot-legged tree frog, is a species in the shrub frog family (Rhacophoridae). In its native range, it is also called "brown tree frog", but this name is otherwise applied to a species of the true tree frog family (Hylidae).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Painted narrowmouth toad</span> Species of amphibian

The painted narrowmouth toad, or slender-digit chorus frog, is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae.

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

The common green frog is a frog species of in the true frog family Ranidae; some sources still use the old name Rana erythraea. It lives in Southeast Asia and is also known as green paddy frog, red-eared frog or leaf frog. The last name, however, commonly refers to the Neotropical tree frogs which make up the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. These are not closely related to H. erythraea, belonging to family Hylidae instead.

<i>Chirixalus doriae</i> Species of amphibian

Chirixalus doriae, commonly known as Doria's Asian treefrog, Doria's bush frog, Doria's bush frog, and Doria's tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is found in southeastern Asia, from extreme northeastern India and adjacent Bangladesh to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and southern China.

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

Polypedates cruciger is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae endemic to Sri Lanka.

Zhangixalus dorsoviridis, also known as the green-back treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae that is found in northern Vietnam and southern China (Yunnan). It may be confused with Rhacophorus nigropunctatus. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Polypedates hecticus is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to Samar, Philippines.

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

Polypedates macrotis, commonly known as the dark-eared treefrog, sometimes also Bongao tree frog, Bongao bubble-nest frog, Baram whipping frog, or brown-striped tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is found in the central peninsular Thailand, Sumatra, Borneo, and Sulu Archipelago as well as a range of other Philippine islands.

Rhacophorus nigropunctatus is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is found in China, possibly Myanmar, and possibly Vietnam.

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

The frilled tree frog, rough-armed tree frog, or Southeast Asian tree frog is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae found in Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical swamps, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, rivers, swamps, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Leptomantis bimaculatus is a species of frog in the moss frog family (Rhacophoridae). Described by Wilhelm Peters in 1867, it is endemic to the Philippines. There, it is known to occur on the islands of Bohol, Mindanao, and in the south of Luzon; it might also be found on other islands as its known range brackets the main chain of the Philippines archipelago.

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

The Chinese flying frog or Chinese gliding frog is a species of tree frog in the family Rhacophoridae found in China, Laos, Burma, and Vietnam. It is also known as Blanford's whipping frog, large treefrog, and Denny's whipping frog.

Rhacophorus orlovi is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.

<i>Zhangixalus owstoni</i> Species of amphibian

Zhangixalus owstoni or Owston's green tree frog is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae endemic to Japan. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, intermittent freshwater marshes, and irrigated land. It is threatened by habitat loss. The population is currently stable.

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

The harlequin tree frog is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Rhacophorus reinwardtii</i> Species of frog

Rhacophorus reinwardtii is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is variously known under the common names of black-webbed treefrog, green flying frog, Reinwardt's flying frog, or Reinwardt's treefrog. Before 2006, Rhacophorus reinwardtii and Rhacophorus kio were considered to be the same species. It is not considered threatened by the IUCN.

Robinson's tree frog is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae found in Malaysia and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and intermittent freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Polypedates iskandari is a species of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. It belongs to the Polypedates leucomystax species complex; it was split from Polypedates leucomystax in 2011 based on a morphometric analysis. This split has been challenged because male vocalizations between specimens from Sulawesi and Java show only minor differences and because genetic differences are low.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Diesmos, A., et al. (2004). Polypedates leucomystax. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. www.iucnredlist.org Archived June 27, 2014, at the Wayback Machine . Downloaded on 01 December 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Golden Tree Frog (Polypedates leucomystax)". amphibiancare. October 31, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Polypedates megacephalus (Hong Kong Whipping Frog, Spot-legged Treefrog, White-lipped Treefrog)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  4. 1 2 KURAISHI, N., MATSUI, M., HAMIDY, A., BELABUT, D. M., AHMAD, N., PANHA, S., SUDIN, A., YONG, H. S., JIANG, J.-P., OTA, H., THONG, H. T. and NISHIKAWA, K. (2013), Phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships of the Polypedates leucomystax complex (Amphibia). Zoologica Scripta, 42: 54–70. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2012.00562.x
  5. 1 2 3 Brown, R. M., C W. Linkem, C. D. Siler, J. Sukumaran J. A. Esselstyn, A. C. Diesmos, D. T. Iskandar, D. Bickford, B. J. Evans, J. A. McGuire, L. Grismer, J. Supriatna, and N. Andayani. 2010. Phylogeography and historical demography of Polypedates leucomystax in the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines: evidence for recent human-mediated range expansion? Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 57:598–619
  6. ↑ Ecology Asia
  7. ↑ Amphibian and Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia - Polypedates leucomystax
  8. ↑ Vassilieva, Anna B.; Galoyan, Eduard A.; Poyarkov, Nikolay A. (2013). ""Rhacophorus vampyrus" (Anura: Rhacophoridae) Reproductive Biology: A New Type of Oophagous Tadpole in Asian Treefrogs". Journal of Herpetology. 47 (4): 607–614. doi:10.1670/12-180. ISSN   0022-1511. JSTOR   43287397. S2CID   83859555.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Polypedates leucomystax at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.