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== Taxonomy and systematics == |
== Taxonomy and systematics == |
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''Mini scule'' was described in 2019 by the [[herpetologist]] Mark Scherz and colleagues based on an adult specimen (presumed to be male) collected in [[Sainte Luce Reserve]] in [[Anosy]] in [[Madagascar]] in 2005.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Scherz|first1=Mark D.|last2=Hutter|first2=Carl R.|last3=Rakotoarison|first3=Andolalao|last4=Riemann|first4=Jana C.|last5=Rödel|first5=Mark-Oliver|last6=Ndriantsoa|first6=Serge H.|last7=Glos|first7=Julian|last8=Hyde Roberts|first8=Sam|last9=Crottini|first9=Angelica|last10=Vences|first10=Miguel|last11=Glaw|first11=Frank |
''Mini scule'' was described in 2019 by the [[herpetologist]] Mark Scherz and colleagues based on an adult specimen (presumed to be male) collected in [[Sainte Luce Reserve]] in [[Anosy]] in [[Madagascar]] in 2005.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Scherz|first1=Mark D.|last2=Hutter|first2=Carl R.|last3=Rakotoarison|first3=Andolalao|last4=Riemann|first4=Jana C.|last5=Rödel|first5=Mark-Oliver|last6=Ndriantsoa|first6=Serge H.|last7=Glos|first7=Julian|last8=Hyde Roberts|first8=Sam|last9=Crottini|first9=Angelica|last10=Vences|first10=Miguel|last11=Glaw|first11=Frank|name-list-style=amp|date=27 March 2019|title=Morphological and ecological convergence at the lower size limit for vertebrates highlighted by five new miniaturised microhylid frog species from three different Madagascan genera|journal=[[PLOS ONE]]|language=en|volume=14|issue=3|page=e0213314|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0213314|pmc=6436692|pmid=30917162|doi-access=free}}</ref> The name ''Mini scule'' is a [[pun]] on the word ''[[wikt:miniscule|miniscule]]'' (an alternative spelling or misspelling of ''[[wikt:minuscule|minuscule]]''), referring to the fact that the species is among the smallest known species of frog. It is regarded as an invariable noun.<ref name=":0" /> Along with ''[[Mini mum]]'' and ''[[Mini ature]]'', the other two species in [[Mini (frog)|its genus]], the species received publicity when it was first described due to its humorous scientific name.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|last1=Solly|first1=Meilan|title=Meet Mini mum, Mini scule and Mini ature, Three New Frog Species Among the World's Smallest|language=en|website=[[Smithsonian Magazine]]|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/three-newly-discovered-frog-species-are-among-worlds-smallest-180971819/|access-date=19 September 2021}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=28 March 2019|title=Meet Mini mum, Mini ature, Mini scule: Tiny new frogs from Madagascar|url=https://news.mongabay.com/2019/03/meet-mini-mum-mini-ature-mini-scule-tiny-new-frogs-from-madagascar/|access-date=19 September 2021|website=Mongabay Environmental News|language=en-US}}</ref> |
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It is part of the family [[Microhylidae]], a widespread family of over 650 species of mostly small frogs. It is most closely related to ''Mini ature'', with these two species forming a [[clade]] [[Sister group|sister]] to ''Mini mum.'' The study that described the species placed the genus ''Mini'' as sister to ''[[Plethodontohyla]]'', despite the former being morphologically more similar to ''[[Stumpffia]]''.<ref name=":0" /> However, a 2021 [[phylogeny]] by Alain Dubois and colleagues instead suggests that to be monophyletic, both ''Plethodontohyla'' and ''Mini'' should be [[Lumpers and splitters|lumped]] with ''[[Cophyla]].'' This would make the present species' name ''Cophyla scule.''<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Dubois|first=Alain|last2=Ohler|first2=Annemarie|last3=Pyron|first3=R. Alexander|date=2021-02-26|title=New concepts and methods for phylogenetic taxonomy and nomenclature in zoology, exemplified by a new ranked cladonomy of recent amphibians (Lissamphibia)|url=https://www.mapress.com/mt/article/view/megataxa.5.1.1|journal=Megataxa|volume=5|issue=1|doi=10.11646/megataxa.5.1.1|issn=2703-3090}}</ref> |
It is part of the family [[Microhylidae]], a widespread family of over 650 species of mostly small frogs. It is most closely related to ''Mini ature'', with these two species forming a [[clade]] [[Sister group|sister]] to ''Mini mum.'' The study that described the species placed the genus ''Mini'' as sister to ''[[Plethodontohyla]]'', despite the former being morphologically more similar to ''[[Stumpffia]]''.<ref name=":0" /> However, a 2021 [[phylogeny]] by Alain Dubois and colleagues instead suggests that to be monophyletic, both ''Plethodontohyla'' and ''Mini'' should be [[Lumpers and splitters|lumped]] with ''[[Cophyla]].'' This would make the present species' name ''Cophyla scule.''<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Dubois|first=Alain|last2=Ohler|first2=Annemarie|last3=Pyron|first3=R. Alexander|date=2021-02-26|title=New concepts and methods for phylogenetic taxonomy and nomenclature in zoology, exemplified by a new ranked cladonomy of recent amphibians (Lissamphibia)|url=https://www.mapress.com/mt/article/view/megataxa.5.1.1|journal=Megataxa|volume=5|issue=1|doi=10.11646/megataxa.5.1.1|issn=2703-3090|doi-access=free}}</ref> |
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The following cladograms show the differing phylogenies found by the 2019 and 2021 studies:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> |
The following cladograms show the differing phylogenies found by the 2019 and 2021 studies:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> |
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''Mini scule'' is one of the smallest known species of frog,<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 March 2019|title=New staple-size frog from Madagascar is one of the tiniest ever discovered|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/smallest-frog-species-discovered-mini-mum|access-date=20 September 2021 |
''Mini scule'' is one of the smallest known species of frog,<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Donahue|first1=Michelle Z.|date=27 March 2019|title=New staple-size frog from Madagascar is one of the tiniest ever discovered|language=en|work=[[National Geographic]]|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/smallest-frog-species-discovered-mini-mum|url-access=registration|access-date=20 September 2021}}</ref> being just {{Convert|8.4–10.8|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. It has bronze [[underparts]], except for the [[groin]] and back of the thigh, which are brown. The underparts and [[upperparts]] have a distinct color border along the side of the body between the rib cage and hip. The side of the head is dark brown but becomes more flecked with cream towards the back. The upperparts are cream with brown flecks. The [[Iris (anatomy)|iris]] is red. The groin can have dark markings in some specimens, along with blacker flanks and a burnt [[umber]] crossband on the thighs and lower leg.<ref name=":0" /> |
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It has a rectangular body, with the head being wider than it is long and narrower than the body. The snout is rounded from the top and side, with non-protuberant nostrils that are equidistant between the eyes and snout. The [[Lore (anatomy)|lores]] are flat and vertical, and the tongue is long and thin. The first, second, and fourth fingers are greatly reduced, while the first toe is absent and the second and fifth toes are strongly reduced. The [[Maxillary teeth|maxillary]] and [[Premaxilla|premaxillary]] teeth are present, but it lacks [[Vomer|vomerine]] teeth.<ref name=":0" /> |
It has a rectangular body, with the head being wider than it is long and narrower than the body. The snout is rounded from the top and side, with non-protuberant nostrils that are equidistant between the eyes and snout. The [[Lore (anatomy)|lores]] are flat and vertical, and the tongue is long and thin. The first, second, and fourth fingers are greatly reduced, while the first toe is absent and the second and fifth toes are strongly reduced. The [[Maxillary teeth|maxillary]] and [[Premaxilla|premaxillary]] teeth are present, but it lacks [[Vomer|vomerine]] teeth.<ref name=":0" /> |
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Revision as of 10:13, 7 January 2022
| Mini scule | |
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| A side view of Mini scule | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Microhylidae |
| Subfamily: | Cophylinae |
| Genus: | Mini |
| Species: | M. scule
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| Binomial name | |
| Mini scule Scherz et al., 2019[1]
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| Known range of Mini scule (yellow pentagon, bottom right) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Cophyla scule — Dubois et al., 2021 | |
Mini scule is a
leaf litter near semi-permanent water bodies. Specimens of frogs from Mandena, the Vohimena mountains, the southern Anosy Mountains, and Tsitongambarika may also be of this species. Like other species in its genus, it received media attention when first described due to the wordplay
in its scientific name.
Taxonomy and systematics
Mini scule was described in 2019 by the
herpetologist Mark Scherz and colleagues based on an adult specimen (presumed to be male) collected in Sainte Luce Reserve in Anosy in Madagascar in 2005.[1] The name Mini scule is a pun on the word miniscule (an alternative spelling or misspelling of minuscule), referring to the fact that the species is among the smallest known species of frog. It is regarded as an invariable noun.[1] Along with Mini mum and Mini ature, the other two species in its genus, the species received publicity when it was first described due to its humorous scientific name.[3][4]
It is part of the family
phylogeny by Alain Dubois and colleagues instead suggests that to be monophyletic, both Plethodontohyla and Mini should be lumped with Cophyla. This would make the present species' name Cophyla scule.[5]
The following cladograms show the differing phylogenies found by the 2019 and 2021 studies:[1][5]
|
Description
Top view of Mini scule
Bottom view of Mini scule
Mini scule is one of the smallest known species of frog,upperparts have a distinct color border along the side of the body between the rib cage and hip. The side of the head is dark brown but becomes more flecked with cream towards the back. The upperparts are cream with brown flecks. The iris is red. The groin can have dark markings in some specimens, along with blacker flanks and a burnt umber crossband on the thighs and lower leg.[1]
It has a rectangular body, with the head being wider than it is long and narrower than the body. The snout is rounded from the top and side, with non-protuberant nostrils that are equidistant between the eyes and snout. The
Within its genus, it can be distinguished from Mini mum by the presence of the maxillary and premaxillary teeth, as well as a less distinct border between the upperparts and underparts along the side, and from Mini ature by its smaller size and proportionally smaller nasals and neurocranium. It is also similar to some species in Stumpffia but can be distinguished from them by its poorly ossified carpals, along with the loss or fusion of the second carpal.[1]
Its calls are very different from those of M. mum but similar to those of many Stumpffia species. They most resemble those of Stumpffia gimmeli, S. larinki, and S. tridactyla. However, its dominant frequency is higher than that of S. gimmeli and S. larinki, while it is lower than that of S. tridactyla.[1]
Distribution and habitat
Mini scule has an extremely limited range, being known only from areas in the Sainte Luce Reserve. Reports of Stumpffia frogs from Mandena, the
leaf litter near semi-permanent water bodies like forest streams.[1]
Conservation
Mini scule is currently known only from the Sainte Luce Reserve and may be
microendemic to forest fragments within it. Although it has not been assessed by the IUCN, the authors of the article in which it is described recommended that it be listed as critically endangered due to its extremely small range and degradation in the quality of the forest which it inhabits.[1]
References
- ^ PMID 30917162.
- . Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ "Meet Mini mum, Mini ature, Mini scule: Tiny new frogs from Madagascar". Mongabay Environmental News. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ ISSN 2703-3090.
- ^ Donahue, Michelle Z. (27 March 2019). "New staple-size frog from Madagascar is one of the tiniest ever discovered". National Geographic. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
External links
Media related to Mini scule at Wikimedia Commons
