Biology:Sphaenorhynchus platycephalus

Short description: Species of amphibian

South American lime treefrog
Conservation status
Data Deficient (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Hylidae
Genus:	Sphaenorhynchus
Species:	S. platycephalus
Binomial name
Sphaenorhynchus platycephalus (Werner, 1894)
Synonyms
Hylopsis platycephalus Werner, 1894 Hyla (Sphoenohyla) orophila Lutz and Lutz, 1938 Sphaenorhynchus orophilus (A. Lutz and B. Lutz 1938)

Sphaenorhynchus platycephalus, commonly known as the South American lime treefrog or Lutz's lime treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to south-eastern Brazil where it occurs in the Serra do Mar and Serra da Mantiqueira ranges in the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais. However, Araujo-Vieira and colleagues suggests that the Serra da Mantiqueira population could represent Sphaenorhynchus canga; the two species are similar.

Systematics

This species was originally described by Franz Werner in 1894 based on a specimen with no other collection information than its origin, "S. Amerika". In 1981 John D.Lynch designated a neotype for the species, erroneously believing that the holotype (the only known specimen, in the collections of the Institut für Zoologie der Universität Wien) was lost. However, the neotype specimen was not a hylid but a centrolenid, later described as a distinct species, Centrolenella savagei (now synonym of Ikakogi tayrona).

Description

The holotype is a female, in poor condition of preservation. It measures 33 mm (1.3 in) in snout–vent length. The body is robust and the snout is rounded. The fingers are one-third and the toes four-fifths webbed. It is clearly distinct from other Sphaenorhynchus species. Adult males measure 29–32 mm (1.1–1.3 in) in snout–vent length. The snout is pointed or truncate-subovoid from above and acute in the lateral profile. The finger and toe tips bears discs; both the fingers and toes are moderately webbed. The dorsum is green. Black mottling or spots may or may not be present. The dorsolateral stripes are yellow above and black below. The ventrum is green or greenish yellow. Males have a single vocal sac.

Habitat and conservation

Sphaenorhynchus platycephalus lives on vegetation above large ponds or lakes or at the edge of forests. Breeding takes place in relatively deep permanent ponds and lakes. It is threatened by drainage of its breeding habitat for mosquito control and the application of insecticides to kill mosquitoes. This practice also occurs within protected areas.

References

Wikidata ☰ {{{from}}} entry