Rhombophryne vaventy
| Rhombophryne vaventy | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Microhylidae |
| Subfamily: | Cophylinae |
| Genus: | Rhombophryne |
| Species: | R. vaventy
|
| Binomial name | |
| Rhombophryne vaventy | |
Rhombophryne vaventy is a large species of frogs of the Madagascar endemic microhylid subfamily Cophylinae. It is one of the largest members of its genus.[1][2][3]
Range and distribution[edit]
Rhombophryne vaventy is endemic to the Marojejy massif in northern Madagascar, where it was originally described from two individuals, captured at high altitude.[4]
Description[edit]
Rhombophryne vaventy measure up to 52 mm (2.0 in). In life, the dorsal skin is highly textured. It lacks webbing between the fingers and toes, and has very long legs.[4] It possesses four unequally sized spines above each eye, characteristic of its species group.[4]
Habitat and ecology[edit]
Rhombophryne vaventy is found in montane rainforest at high altitude (~1,300 m (4,300 ft) above sea level) on the Marojejy massif. Like most Rhombophryne species, R. vaventy is a terrestrial or possibly semi-fossorial frog. It is a generalist predator, and its diet is known to include relatively large arthrosphaerid pill millipedes of the genus Zoosphaerium.[4] Nothing is currently known of its breeding or calling behaviour.
Taxonomy[edit]
Rhombophryne vaventy was confused with R. serratopalpebrosa until the taxonomy of the R. serratopalpebrosa species complex began to be resolved.[4] It differs from R. serratopalpebrosa in its size, eye spines, skin texture, and numerous other characters.[4] Ongoing resolution of this complex has yielded several new species, including R. ornata and R. tany.
References[edit]
- ^ a b IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Rhombophryne vaventy". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T79130249A177140091. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T79130249A177140091.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2007). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar (3rd ed.). Köln, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlags GbR. pp. 118–119. ISBN 978-3-929449-03-7.
- ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Rhombophryne vaventy Scherz, Ruthensteiner, Vences, and Glaw, 2014". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Scherz, Mark D.; Ruthensteiner, Bernhard; Vences, Miguel; Glaw, Frank (2014). "A new microhylid frog, genus Rhombophryne, from northeastern Madagascar, and a re-description of R. serratopalpebrosa using micro-computed tomography". Zootaxa. 3860 (6): 547–560. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3860.6.3. PMID 25283290.