Biology:Pristimantis attenboroughi

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Short description: Species of amphibian

Pristimantis attenboroughi
Pristimantis attenboroughi(Lehr).jpg
Holotype, a male
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Strabomantidae
Genus: Pristimantis
Species:
P. attenboroughi
Binomial name
Pristimantis attenboroughi

Pristimantis attenboroughi, also known as Attenborough's rubber frog, is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to the Peruvian Andes and has been recorded in and near the Pui–Pui Protection Forest.[1][2][3] It is the first amphibian named after David Attenborough.[4][5] It was discovered by Edgar Lehr and Rudolf von May during a period of two years of studying the forests of Peru.[3] The species description was based on 34 specimens caught at elevations of 3,400–3,936 m (11,155–12,913 ft) above sea level.[6]

Description

Male of Pristimantis attenboroughi (lateral view)

Adult males measure 15–19 mm (0.6–0.7 in) and adult females 19–23 mm (0.7–0.9 in) in snout–vent length. The snout is short and rounded. No tympanum is present. The finger and toe tips are narrow and rounded, without circumferential grooves; neither lateral fringes nor webbing is present. The dorsal coloration ranges from pale gray to reddish brown to brownish olive. There are scattered flecks and sometimes an X-shaped scapular mark. Most specimens have dark grayish-brown canthal and supratympanic stripes. Juveniles are paler in coloration, yellowish to reddish brown, bearing contrasting dark brown flecks and distinct canthal and supratympanic stripes.[6]

Reproduction occurs by direct development, that is, there is no free-living tadpole stage.[1] The average egg diameter is 3.5 mm (0.14 in).[6]

Habitat and conservation

Pristimantis attenboroughi is known from upper montane forests and high Andean grasslands at 3,400–3,936 m (11,155–12,913 ft) above sea level where specimens were found living inside moss pads. A female was found guarding a clutch of 20 eggs inside moss.[1][6]

Although this species could qualify as "endangered" or "vulnerable" because of its small range,[6][7] the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessed it in 2018 as "near threatened".[1] The category was chosen because the overall population is believed to be stable, the species is common, and much of the known range is within a protected area.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2018). "Pristimantis attenboroughi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T114104884A114104893. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T114104884A114104893.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/114104884/114104893. Retrieved 12 November 2021. 
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2022). "Pristimantis attenboroughi Lehr and von May, 2017". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. https://amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org/Amphibia/Anura/Brachycephaloidea/Strabomantidae/Pristimantinae/Pristimantis/Pristimantis-attenboroughi. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "New frog from the Peruvian Andes is the first amphibian named after Sir David Attenborough". 2017-03-07. https://blog.pensoft.net/2017/03/07/new-frog-from-the-peruvian-andes-is-the-first-amphibian-named-after-sir-david-attenborough/. 
  4. "Completely new species of frog discovered, named after David Attenborough" (in en-GB). The Independent. 2017-03-07. https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/david-attenborough-rubber-frog-andes-mountains-first-amphibian-british-naturalist-bbc-planet-earth-a7616521.html. 
  5. "New frog from the Peruvian Andes is the first amphibian named after Sir David Attenborough". https://phys.org/news/2017-03-frog-peruvian-andes-amphibian-sir.html. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Lehr and von May 2017
  7. "Illinois Wesleyan: Lehr's Team First to Name Amphibian After BBC's Attenborough" (in en). https://www.iwu.edu/news/2017/lehrs-team-names-new-frog-after-attenborough.html. 

Wikidata ☰ Q28916638 entry