Biology:Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis

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Short description: Species of amphibian

Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Gymnophiona
Clade: Apoda
Family: Scolecomorphidae
Genus: Crotaphatrema
Species:
C. tchabalmbaboensis
Binomial name
Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis
Lawson, 2000[2]

Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis is a species of caecilian in the family Scolecomorphidae, the tropical or African caecilians. It was discovered in 1997 on Mount Tchabal Mbabo in the Adamawa Plateau, western Cameroon, and described as a new species to science in 2000.[2][3] Three specimens were collected at the type locality, and no individuals have been observed since.[1]

Description

This caecilian, the third species in the genus Crotaphatrema, is differentiated from the others by size, body shape, color pattern, and the lack of grooves on its collars.[2]

The type series consists of two adult females measuring 298 and 338 mm (11.7 and 13.3 in) in total length, and a subadult female measuring 278 mm (10.9 in). The body width is 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in). The eyes are not visible externally. The dorsum is blue- black and the venter is cream. The border between the dorsal and ventral coloration has a serrated pattern.[2]

Habitat and conservation

The species is known only from the northern face of one mountain, where it was collected from forests on steep, sloping terrain at 1,950–2,000 m (6,400–6,560 ft) above sea level. It is not known if it can survive in the surrounding heavily grazed pastureland. Mount Tchabal Mbabo has been proposed as a national park, which provide protection for the species' forest habitat.[1]

Mount Tchabal Mbabo in Cameroon.
Mount Tchabal Mbabo in Cameroon.
Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis is only known from Mount Tchabal Mbabo, Cameroon

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2014). "Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T59650A16957380. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T59650A16957380.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/59650/16957380. Retrieved 16 November 2021. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lawson, Dwight P. (2000). "A new caecilian from Cameroon, Africa (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Scolecomorphidae)". Herpetologica 56 (1): 77–80. 
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis Lawson, 2000". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/index.php//Amphibia/Gymnophiona/Scolecomorphidae/Crotaphatrema/Crotaphatrema-tchabalmbaboensis. Retrieved 6 May 2018. 

Wikidata ☰ Q2705960 entry