Helena's marsupial frog

The Helena's marsupial frog (Gastrotheca helenae) is a species of frog in the family Hemiphractidae. It is endemic to the Páramo de Tamá on the Venezuelan-Colombian border and occurs in Apure and Táchira states of Venezuela and Norte de Santander Department on the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia.[1][3][4] It is named after Helen Gaige, an American herpetologist.[2][5]

Helena's marsupial frog
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hemiphractidae
Genus: Gastrotheca
Species:
G. helenae
Binomial name
Gastrotheca helenae
Dunn, 1944[2]

Description

Gastrotheca helenae is a large marsupial frog. The holotype, an adult female, measured 62 mm (2.4 in) in snout–vent length. The dorsum is smooth and bright green in color; the sides and belly are reddish brown with white markings. The belly and throat are quite rugose. The toes are about half-webbed whereas the fingers have only traces of webbing.[2][6]

Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitats are cloud forests[1][4] and páramo[4] at elevations of 2,300–3,600 m (7,500–11,800 ft) above sea level.[3][4] It is much more easily heard than seen.[1]

The species occurs in the Tamá National Natural Park in Colombia and El Tamá National Park in Venezuela. Threats to it are unknown. It was abundant in the mid-1980s when last surveyed.[1]

References
  1. La Marca, E.; Ardila-Robayo, M.C.; Rueda, J.V. (2004). "Gastrotheca helenae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T54558A11167366. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T54558A11167366.en.
  2. Dunn, E. R. (1944). "Notes on Colombian herpetology, II". Caldasia. 2: 397–406.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Gastrotheca helenae Dunn, 1944". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  4. Acosta-Galvis, A.R. (2015). "Gastrotheca helenae Dunn, 1944". Lista de los Anfibios de Colombia V.05.2015. www.batrachia.com. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  5. Bo Beolens; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson (22 April 2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 153. ISBN 978-1-907807-42-8.
  6. Cochran, Doris M.; Goin, Coleman J. (1970). "Frogs of Colombia". Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 288: 1–678. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.6346. (pages 175-177)
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