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 | |
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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
- 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)
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2018). "Limnonectes palavanensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T58362A114915470. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- 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.
- Haas, A.; Das, I.; Hertwig, S.T. (2016). "Limnonectes palavanensis (Smooth Guardian Frog)". Frogs of Borneo. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
- Vitt, Laurie J.; Caldwell, Janalee P. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (4th ed.). Academic Press. p. 171.