Microhyla borneensis
Microhyla borneensis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Family: | Microhylidae |
Genus: | Microhyla |
Species: | M. borneensis
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Binomial name | |
Microhyla borneensis Parker, 1928
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Synonyms | |
Microhyla nepenthicola Das and Haas, 2010 |
Microhyla borneensis (
Discovery
Microhyla borneensis was first described by Hampton Wildman Parker in 1928.[2] Frogs of the species that was eventually described as Microhyla nepenthicola had been known for at least 100 years prior to its description in 2010. However, scientists had always assumed that the frogs were juveniles of another species. Researchers Indraneil Das and Alexander Haas recognized that they were actually adults when they heard the frogs calling in Kubah National Park, since only adult frogs make calls.[9] Adult males call from the pitcher plants at dusk.[10] However, in 2011 it was shown that M. borneensis and M. nepenthicola are the same species.[2] What was until that point commonly known as Microhyla borneensis was another species, newly described as Microhyla malang.[11]
The smallest known Old World frog species prior to the description of Microhyla nepenthicola were Stumpffia pygmaea and Stumpffia tridactyla: S. pygmaea with an SVL of 10–12.5 mm; S. tridactyla with an SVL of 8.6–12 mm.[7][12]
Description
Microhyla borneensis is a very small species with a snout–vent length of about 18 mm (0.71 in) for females and around two thirds of this for males. It has a broadly triangular body that is flattened dorso-ventrally. The snout is obtusely pointed, the eyes are small and have round pupils and there are no visible tympani. The skin on the dorsal surface may be smooth or bear tubercles and that of the ventral surface is always smooth. The limbs are short. The hands are unwebbed and the outer digits are spatulate. The digits of the feet are partially webbed.[13] M. borneensis has less webbing on its feet than most frogs, which may be beneficial when trying to climb the sides of the pitcher plants, which can be slippery.[10][13] The dorsal surface of this frog is reddish-brown, the throat is mottled brown and the ventral surface is pale.[13]
Distribution and habitat
Microhyla borneensis is known from the Matang Range in Sarawak, Borneo,[2][3] but it is presumably widespread in suitable habitats in the lowlands of northern Borneo.[3]
M. borneensis is found near
Reproduction
Microhyla borneensis breeds in the water-filled pitchers of Nepenthes ampullaria, a pitcher plant that is a feature of the floor of the Borneo rainforest. Multiple clutches may be laid in the same pitcher which may contain tadpoles of different ages. Metamorphosis takes place about a fortnight after the eggs are laid.[13]
Status
This frog is seldom seen, perhaps because of its small size and inconspicuous appearance. Its numbers are thought to be in slow decline but the
See also
References
- ^ . Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Microhyla borneensis Parker, 1928". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- ^ a b c d Haas, A.; Das, I.; Hertwig, S. T. (2015), "Microhyla borneensis Matang narrow-mouthed frog", Frogs of Borneo: The frogs of East Malaysia and their larval forms, retrieved 23 November 2015
- Science Daily. 25 August 2010.
- ^ Gururaja, K. V. (October 2010). "Old World's smallest frog discovered residing in killer plants". Correspondence. Current Science. 99 (8): 1000.
- PMID 22253785.
- ^ .
- ^ Baker, Nick (n.d.). "Amphibians of SE Asia: Bornean Chorus Frog Microhyla borneensis" Ecology Asia
- ^ a b "World's smallest frog is size of a pea". New York Post. 26 August 2006. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Microhyla nepenthicola sp. nov". Conservation International. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Microhyla malang Matsui, 2011". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- ISSN 1864-5755.
- "Stumpffia pygmaea Vences & Glaw, 1991" p. 310
- "Stumpffia tridactyla Guibé, 1975" pp. 336–338
- ^ a b c d Whittaker, Kellie; Zhuang, Mingna (Vicky) (29 October 2014) [First published 26 May 2011]. "Microhyla borneensis". AmphibiaWeb. Berkeley, California (US): University of California.