Biology:Alexteroon
| Alexteroon | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male Alexteroon hypsiphonus | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hyperoliidae |
| Genus: | Hyperolius |
| Type species | |
| Hyperolius obstetricans Ahl, 1931
| |
| Species | |
|
3 species (see text) | |
Alexteroon is a genus of frogs, sometimes called the egg-guarding frogs, in the family Hyperoliidae.[1][2][3][4] The genus is endemic to western Central Africa, specifically from Cameroon through Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to western Republic of the Congo and northwestern and northern Angola.[1] They inhabit low- to mid-altitude rainforests near streams.[4] The genus name, joining alexter (=protector) and oon (=egg),[5] refers to the egg-guarding behavior known for Alexteroon obstetricans.[5][4]
Species
The genus contains three species:[1][2][3][4]
- Alexteroon hypsiphonus Amiet, 2000
- Alexteroon jynx Amiet, 2000
- Alexteroon obstetricans (Ahl, 1931)
Description
Alexteroon are relatively small—the largest species, Alexteroon obstetricans, can reach 31 mm (1.2 in) in snout–vent length—and flat-bodied frogs. The pupil is horizontal and the tympanum is distinct. Coloration is brown to green with pattern that changes diurnally. The belly is translucent. Males have a small vocal sac.[4]
Reproduction
Males call with the head raised almost at right angle relative to the body. At least in Alexteroon obstetricans, females guard their eggs. The tadpoles are long and slender, with a long tail that has only narrow fins.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Frost, Darrel R. (2021). "Alexteroon Perret, 1988". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. https://amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org/Amphibia/Anura/Hyperoliidae/Hyperoliinae/Alexteroon.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Hyperoliidae". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2021. http://amphibiaweb.org/lists/Hyperoliidae.shtml. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Alexteroon Perret, 1988". African Amphibians. http://africanamphibians.myspecies.info/taxonomy/term/1018.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Channing, Allan; Rödel, Mark-Oliver (2019). Field Guide to the Frogs & other Amphibians of Africa. Cape Town: Struik Nature. pp. 168–169. ISBN 978-1-77584-512-6.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Perret, J.-L. (1988). "Sur quelques genres d'Hyperoliidae (Anura) restés en question" (in fr). Bulletin de la Société Neuchâteloise des Sciences Naturelles 111: 35–48. https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=bsn-002:1988:111::42.
Wikidata ☰ Q622396 entry
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