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Hoplophryne

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Hoplophryne
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Subfamily: Hoplophryninae
Genus: Hoplophryne
Barbour and Loveridge, 1928[1]
Type species
Hoplophryne uluguruensis
Barbour and Loveridge, 1928
Species

2 species (see text)

Hoplophryne is a genus of microhylid frogs.[2][3][4] The genus is endemic to mountain forests of Tanzania.[2][4] They are also known as three-fingered frogs[2][4] or African banana frogs[2] (not to be confused with Afrixalus, another African genus known as "banana frogs"[5]).

Species

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There are two species in this genus,[2][3][4] both endangered:[6]

Description

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Hoplophryne are small frogs, reaching 32 mm (1.3 in) in snout–vent length (female H. rogersi).[4] Their distinctive characters is that male frogs have only three fingers: the thumb is reduced to a small bump or group of spines.[1][4]

Drawing of two frog forelimbs
The forelimb of the male Hoplophryne uluguruensis (left) and H. rogersi (right) showing the reduced thumb.

Ecology and reproduction

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Hoplophryne can be found in leaf litter,[4] under logs, and in bananas and bamboos.[1] Reproduction takes place in phytotelmata. The modified thumbs of males are probably involved in mating, helping the male to embrace the female.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Barbour, T. & Loveridge, A. (1928). "A comparative study of the herpetological faunae of the Uluguru and Usambara Mountains, Tanganyika Territory with descriptions of new species". Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 50. Cambridge, Massachusetts: 87–265. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.49344.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Frost, Darrel R. (2022). "Hoplophryne Barbour and Loveridge, 1928". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Microhylidae". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Channing, Allan & Rödel, Mark-Oliver (2019). Field Guide to the Frogs & other Amphibians of Africa. Cape Town: Struik Nature. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-77584-512-6.
  5. ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2022). "Afrixalus Laurent, 1944". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  6. ^ IUCN (2022). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". Retrieved 12 July 2022.