Limnonectes palavanensis

Limnonectes palavanensis (common names: smooth guardian frog, Palawan wart frog) is a species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. It is found in the Palawan Island (the Philippines, its type locality) and in Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia).[3][4] The species shows paternal care,[2][4] a relatively rare trait in frogs.[5]

Limnonectes palavanensis
Limnonectes palavanensis from the Crocker Range, Borneo[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Dicroglossidae
Genus: Limnonectes
Species:
L. palavanensis
Binomial name
Limnonectes palavanensis
(Boulenger, 1894)
Synonyms

Rana palavanensis Boulenger, 1894

Description

Male Limnonectes palavanensis grow to about 30 mm (1.2 in) and females to about 40 mm (1.6 in) in snout–vent length. There is a V-shaped ridge between the shoulders, and a sharp interorbital band that separates the anterior part of the head from differently colorer back. Juveniles have a medial vertebral stripe that in some populations persists in adults too.[4]

The tadpole is moderately flat (dorsoventrally compressed). The tail is twice the length of the body. The tail fin is low and ends in a pointed tip.[4]

Reproduction

The male of this species guard the tadpoles that hatch from the eggs laid on the ground. The male then carries the tadpoles on its back to water.[2][4]

Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitats are lower montane and lowland forests. The tadpoles develop in small rain pools[2] and quiet sections of small, slow moving streams.[4]

The habitat of this species is mostly well protected, although it can potentially be impacted by habitat loss.[2] It occurs in the Crocker Range National Park.[1]

References
  1. Das, I. (2006). "Crocker Range National Park, Sabah, as a refuge for Borneo's montane herpetofauna" (PDF). Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. 4 (1): 3–11. doi:10.1514/journal.arc.0040015 (inactive 2021-01-16).CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of January 2021 (link)
  2. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2018). "Limnonectes palavanensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T58362A114915470. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Limnonectes palavanensis (Boulenger, 1894)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  4. Haas, A.; Das, I.; Hertwig, S.T. (2016). "Limnonectes palavanensis (Smooth Guardian Frog)". Frogs of Borneo. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  5. Vitt, Laurie J.; Caldwell, Janalee P. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (4th ed.). Academic Press. p. 171.
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