Osteocephalus deridens

Osteocephalus deridens is a species of frog in the family Hylidae.[3] It is found in the Napo and Pastaza River drainages in eastern Ecuador and in the Loreto Region, northern Peru.[1][4][5] The specific name deridens is derived from Latin deridere, meaning "make fun of someone". This alludes to the males calling from the treetops that sound "as if they are laughing at the collectors' vain attempts to reach them".[2] Common name funny slender-legged treefrog has been coined for this species.[4]

Osteocephalus deridens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Osteocephalus
Species:
O. deridens
Binomial name
Osteocephalus deridens
Jungfer, Ron, Seipp, and Almendáriz, 2000[2]

Description

Adult males measure 29–35 mm (1.1–1.4 in) and adult females 44–51 mm (1.7–2.0 in) in snout–vent length.[4] The snout is rounded in profile and truncate in dorsal view. The tympanum is conspicuous but partly cover by the supratympanic fold. The fingers and the toes are partially webbed. The dorsum is dark tan, with variable markings (irregular dark tan blotches, suffusions of dark tan, irregular light brown spots or flecks, or light brown backward-pointing triangle). The limbs have dark crossbars. The lower surfaces are creamy white.[2]

Habitat and conservation

Osteocephalus deridens inhabits Napo moist forests at elevations of 200–600 m (660–1,970 ft) above sea level.[1][4] It occurs in the canopy of primary forest.[1] Males call usually higher than 5 m (16 ft) above the ground, and the tadpoles develop in bromeliads, often higher than 15 m (49 ft) above the ground.[1]

This species is difficult to observe because of its arboreal lifestyle. It does not adapt well to anthropogenic disturbance and is threatened by habitat loss caused by agriculture and logging. It occurs in the Yasuni National Park (Ecuador).[1]

References
  1. Almendáriz, A.; Cisneros-Heredia, D.; Jungfer, K.-H.; Coloma, L.A.; Ron, S. (2004). "Osteocephalus deridens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T55791A11356994. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T55791A11356994.en.
  2. Jungfer, Karl-Heinz; Ron, Santiago; Seipp, Robert & Almendáriz, Ana (2000). "Two new species of hylid frogs, genus Osteocephalus, from Amazonian Ecuador". Amphibia-Reptilia. 21 (3): 327–340. doi:10.1163/156853800507525.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Osteocephalus deridens Jungfer, Ron, Seipp, and Almendáriz, 2000". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  4. Read, M. & Ron, SR (2011–2016). Ron, S. R.; Yanez-Muñoz, M. H.; Merino-Viteri, A. & Ortiz, D. A. (eds.). "Osteocephalus deridens". AmphibiaWebEcuador. Version 2018.0. Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ). Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  5. Moravec, J.; Aparicio, J.; Guerrero-Reinhard, M.; Calderón, G.; Jungfer, K.-H. & Gvoždík, V. (2009). "A new species of Osteocephalus (Anura: Hylidae) from Amazonian Bolivia: first evidence of tree frog breeding in fruit capsules of the Brazil nut tree". Zootaxa. 2215: 37–54.
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