Austrochaperina aquilonia

Austrochaperina aquilonia is a species of frogs in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to the Sandaun Province, north-western Papua New Guinea. It is only known from two nearby locations in the Torricelli Mountains: Mount Somoro (type locality) and from the village of Wilbeite.[1][2][3] The specific name aquilonia is a Latin adjective meaning "northern" and refers to the range of this species in the north coast mountains of New Guinea.[2]

Known range of Austrochaperina aquilonia in New Guinea

Austrochaperina aquilonia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Genus: Austrochaperina
Species:
A. aquilonia
Binomial name
Austrochaperina aquilonia

Description

Austrochaperina aquilonia is only known from two specimens, both adult males: the holotype (collected by Jared Diamond) measuring 31 mm (1.2 in) in snout–vent length, and the paratype (collected by Tim Flannery) measuring 23 mm (0.91 in). It is a relatively slender-bodied species with a bluntly pointed snout. The hands are relatively small and have small finger discs. The toes are unwebbed. The dorsum is pale graybrown with darker brown irregular spotting and mottling.[2]

Habitat and conservation

Habitat data are missing[2] but Austrochaperina aquilonia is believed to be a forest inhabitant. The specimens were collected somewhere between 730 and 1,420 m (2,400 and 4,660 ft) above sea level.[1] There are no known threats to this little known species.[1]

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group & Allison, A (2020). "Austrochaperina aquilonia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T57685A152548492.
  2. Zweifel, R. G. (2000). "Partition of the Australopapuan microhylid frog genus Sphenophryne with descriptions of new species". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 253: 1–130. doi:10.1206/0003-0090(2000)253<0001:POTAMF>2.0.CO;2. hdl:2246/1600.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Austrochaperina aquilonia Zweifel, 2000". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
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