Biology:Atlantihyla melissa
| Atlantihyla melissa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hylidae |
| Genus: | Atlantihyla |
| Species: | A. melissa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Atlantihyla melissa Townsend, Herrera-B., Hofmann, Luque-Montes, Ross, Dudek, Krygeris, Duchamp, and Wilson, 2020[2]
| |
Atlantihyla melissa is a species of frog in the family Hylidae, endemic to Honduras. It has been observed between 780 and 1680 meters above sea level in the Cordillera Nombre de Dios mountains. Its known habitat is contained within the Refugio de Vida Silvestre Texiguat.[2][3][1][4]
Appearance
The adult male frog measures 30.4–38.8 mm in snout-vent length and the adult female frog is 30.9–43.9 mm long.[3]
This frog can be any of several colors. Some frogs have spots and some do not. Most frogs have a ventrolateral stripe that can be pale to bright yellow. This frog exhibits considerable sexual dimorphism but scientists note large amounts of inter-individual variation as well. Adult male frogs can have salmon colored eyes or red eyes. Adult female frogs have green eyes or brown eyes.[3]
Habitat
These frogs live in riparian habitats with fast-moving water and rocky beds with pools nearby. At night, scientists have observed these frogs sitting on plants that hang over the water. The adult male's advertisement call can be noted even when the frog himself is hidden.[3]
Tadpoles
The tadpole can grow to be 47.1 mm long. The tadpole has a large oral disk on the bottom of its body. The young frogs emerge from the water as metamorphs in July or July.[3]
Threats
This frog is considered critically endangered because of its extremely small range. Deforestation from logging and construction threaten its habitat.[3]
Etymology
Scientists named this frog after fellow researcher Isis Melissa Medina-Flores, a biologist who studied the amphibians of Honduras. In 2016, she went missing while climbing Honduras' highest mountain, and no sign of her was ever found.[3][4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Atlantihyla melissa". p. e.T195588568A195588745. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/195588568/195588745.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Frost, Darrel R.. "Atlantihyla melissa (Townsend, Herrera-B., Hofmann, Luque-Montes, Ross, Dudek, Krygeris, Duchamp, and Wilson, 2020)". American Museum of Natural History, New York. https://amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org/Amphibia/Anura/Hylidae/Hylinae/Atlantihyla/Atlantihyla-melissa.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Atlantihyla melissa Townsend, Herrera-B., Hofmann, Luque-Montes, Ross, Dudek, Krygeris, Duchamp, and Wilson, 2020". University of California, Berkeley. December 17, 2022. https://amphibiaweb.org/species/9296.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Townsend JH; Herrera-B LA; Hofmann, EP; Luque-Montess IR; Ross AN; Dudek Jr.; Krygeris C; Duchamp JE et al. (2020). "A critically endangered new species of polymorphic stream frog (Anura: Hylidae: Atlantihyla) from the montane rainforest of Refugio de Vida Silvestre Texiguat, Honduras.". Vertebrate Zoology 70 (4): 731–756. doi:10.26049/VZ70-4-2020-12. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346039062_A_critically_endangered_new_species_of_polymorphic_stream_frog_Anura_Hylidae_Atlantihyla_from_the_montane_rainforest_of_Refugio_de_Vida_Silvestre_Texiguat_Honduras. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
Wikidata ☰ Q115056171 entry
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