Parhoplophryne

Parhoplophryne is a monotypic frog genus in the family Microhylidae.[4][5] The sole species is Parhoplophryne usambarica, sometimes known as the Usambara black-banded frog or Amani forest frog.[4][5] It is endemic to the East Usambara Mountains in Tanzania.[1][3] It is only known from one specimen collected in the 1920s and is feared to be extinct.[1]

Parhoplophryne

Critically endangered, possibly extinct  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Subfamily: Hoplophryninae
Genus: Parhoplophryne
Barbour and Loveridge, 1928
Species:
P. usambarica
Binomial name
Parhoplophryne usambarica
Barbour and Loveridge, 1928[2]
Synonyms[3]

Parhoplophryne usambaricus Barbour and Loveridge, 1928[2]

Description

This species is only known from the holotype,[1] a juvenile female that measured 23 mm (0.91 in) in snout–vent length. In addition, a series of tadpoles was also collected, but it is uncertain whether they belong to this species or Hoplophryne rogersi.[2]

The holotype had moderately stout general appearance, with a small head, acuminate snout, and small mouth. No tympanum is present. The fingers and toes were without any webbing. The skin was perfectly smooth (i.e., without any spinosities) but with rugose folds. Colouration was very similar to Hoplophryne rogersi, which is slatey-blue above, shading to blue-grey peripherally. A white band was running from eye to base of fore limb. The underside was white, blotched and spotted with dark brown.[2]

Habitat and conservation

The holotype was collected in a wild banana (Ensete) in a forested hill to the west of Amani, at approximately 900 m (3,000 ft) above sea level.[1][3] Other information on the species' habitat and ecology is not available.[1]

Considering that many surveys undertaken in the area, without positive records, and the extent of habitat loss in the area (first by tea plantations and at present by small-scale agriculture), it is possible that this species is extinct. Theoretically, it might be present in the Amani Nature Reserve, although intensive sampling has not revealed any specimens.[1]

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2014). "Parhoplophryne usambarica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T57946A13323507. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T57946A13323507.en.
  2. 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: 87–265. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.49344.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Parhoplophryne usambarica Barbour and Loveridge, 1928". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  4. Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Parhoplophryne Barbour and Loveridge, 1928". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  5. "Microhylidae". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
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