Amolops

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Cascade frogs
Amolops panhai
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ranidae
Genus: Amolops
Cope, 1865
Species

Many, see text

Amolops (commonly known as cascade frogs or sucker frogs) is a

Huia, Meristogenys, Odorrana, Pelophylax and Rana, but still form a distinct lineage among the core radiation of true frogs.[1] They are commonly known as "torrent frogs" after their favorite habitat
- small rapid-flowing mountain and hill streams - but this name is used for many similar-looking frogs regardless of whether they are loosely related.

Several

A. archotaphus and its relatives for example very much resemble Odorrana livida. In another incidence of convergent evolution yielding adaptation to habitat, the tadpoles of Amolops, Huia, Meristogenys as well as Rana sauteri have a raised and usually well-developed sucker on their belly. This is useful in keeping in place in rocky torrents, where these frogs grow up. But as Odorrana and Staurois from comparable habitat prove, this sucker is by no means a necessity and other means of adaptation to torrent habitat exist.[2]

Species

The delimitation of this genus has proven complicated, with many

New species are described on a regular basis. At least one undescribed species is known to exist, a very distinct form from Phetchaburi in Thailand that is possibly closer to A. marmoratus than to most others.[3]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Cai et al. (2007), Stuart (2008)
  2. ^ Stuart (2008)
  3. ^ Cai et al. (2007)

References

  • Cai, Hong-xia; Che, Jing, Pang, Jun-feng; Zhao, Er-mi & Zhang, Ya-ping (2007): Paraphyly of Chinese Amolops (Anura, Ranidae) and phylogenetic position of the rare Chinese frog, Amolops tormotus. Zootaxa 1531: 49–55. PDF abstract and first page text
  • Stuart, Bryan L. (2008): The phylogenetic problem of Huia (Amphibia: Ranidae). (HTMl abstract)