Limnonectes palavanensis

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

Rana palavanensis Boulenger, 1894

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

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. 1 2 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.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Diesmos, A., Alcala, A., Brown, R., Afuang, L., Gee, G., Inger, R., Stuebing, R., Das, I., Yambun, P. & Lakim, M. (2004). "Limnonectes palavanensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2004. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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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