Synapturanus

Synapturanus is a genus of microhylid frogs.[1][2] They are found in northern South America. Common name disc frogs has been coined for the genus.[1][3] Because of their fossorial life style, their natural history is poorly known.[3]

Synapturanus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Subfamily: Otophryninae
Genus: Synapturanus
Carvalho, 1954
Type species
Synapturanus mirandaribeiroi
Nelson and Lescure, 1975
Species

3 species (see text)

Ecology and behavior

Synapturanus are fossorial and mostly nocturnal tropical rainforest frogs found in the leaf litter and soft soils. Calling takes place usually during rain, which apparently triggers the calling. Eggs are deposited terrestrially in a small burrow below the soil surface. The tadpoles are endotrophic (developing without external food sources).[3] Stomach contents have included nematodes and various arthropods (ants, termites, and spiders).[4]

Description

Females are larger than males. Breeding males have a glandular swelling on the wrist. Males and females are otherwise similar.[3] The largest species is Synapturanus mirandaribeiroi, which reaches a snout–vent length of at least 37 mm (1.5 in). [5]

Species

This genus has three recognized species:[1][2]

Binomial name and authorCommon name
Synapturanus mirandaribeiroi Nelson and Lescure, 1975Miranda's disc frog
Synapturanus rabus Pyburn, 1977Vaupes disc frog
Synapturanus salseri Pyburn, 1975Timbo disc frog

Another type of Synapturanus nicknamed "The Plump Digger" was discovered by scientists in the Pico da Neblina National Park, Brazil in 2018.[6]

References
  1. Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Synapturanus Carvalho, 1954". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  2. "Microhylidae". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  3. Kok, P. J. R. & Kalamandeen, M. (2008). Introduction to the Taxonomy of the Amphibians of Kaieteur National Park, Guyana. Abc Taxa: A Series of Manuals Dedicated to Capacity Building in Taxonomy and Collection Management. 5. Brussels, Belgium: Belgian Development Corporation. pp. 230–231.
  4. Nelson, Craig E.; Lescure, Jean (1975). "The taxonomy and distribution of Myersiella and Synapturanus (Anura: Microhylidae)". Herpetologica. 31 (4): 389–39 7. JSTOR 3891525.
  5. Pyburn, William F. (1975). "A new species of microhylid frog of the genus Synapturanus from southeastern Colombia". Herpetologica. 31 (4): 439–443. JSTOR 3891537.
  6. Jung, Elaine (2018-04-06). "Amazon Discoveries - The new species found where few scientists have gone before". BBC News. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
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