Hyperolius discodactylus

Hyperolius discodactylus is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae.[2][4] It occurs in the montane areas of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and western Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. It is also known as the Albertine Rift reed frog, highland reed frog, or disc-fingered reed frog.[2][1]

Hyperolius discodactylus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hyperoliidae
Genus: Hyperolius
Species:
H. discodactylus
Binomial name
Hyperolius discodactylus
Ahl, 1931
Synonyms[2][3]

Hyperolius alticola Ahl, 1931

Description

Adult males measure 27–35 mm (1.1–1.4 in) and adult females 30–39 mm (1.2–1.5 in) in snout–urostyle length. The fingers bear large discs and are up to half-webbed. The toes have somewhat smaller discs and are about half-webbed.[3] The dorsum is brownish to orange, either uniform or displaying diffuse dark spots. A dark canthal line is present. Calling males have bright green vocal sac. The venter is bright orange.[4]

Habitat and conservation

Hyperolius discodactylus occurs in montane forests at elevations of 1,600–2,700 m (5,200–8,900 ft) above sea level. It is associated with rivers, streams, and swamps, its presumed breeding habitat.[1]

It is mostly a rarely encountered species. Precise information is lacking but it might be threatened by habitat loss caused by agriculture, wood extraction, and human settlements. However, it is present in a number of protected areas: Bwindi and Ruwenzori Mountains National Parks in Uganda, Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda, Bururi Nature Reserve in Burundi, and Kahuzi-Biega and Virunga National Parks in the Democratic Republic of Congo.[1]

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Hyperolius discodactylus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T56130A16939295. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T56130A16939295.en.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Hyperolius discodactylus Ahl, 1931". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  3. Liedtke, H. Christoph; Kujirakwinja, Deo; Plumptre, Andrew J.; Menegon, Michele; Pupin, Fabio; Dehling, J. Maximilian; Hügli, Dominik & Loader, Simon P. (2014). "One or two species? On the case of Hyperolius discodactylus Ahl, 1931 and H. alticola Ahl, 1931 (Anura: Hyperoliidae)". Zootaxa. 3768 (3): 253–290. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3768.3.2.
  4. "Hyperolius discodactylus". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
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