Spiny giant frog

The spiny giant frog[1] or Norton's robber frog, Eleutherodactylus nortoni, is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to Hispaniola and known from the Massif de la Hotte, Massif de la Selle, and Sierra de Baoruco, occurring in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti.[3] It is named after James W. Norton who accompanied Albert Schwartz in his 1974 expedition to Hispaniola and collected the holotype.[2][4]

Not to be confused with Giant spiny frog or Spiny-breasted giant frog.

Spiny giant frog
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Eleutherodactylidae
Genus: Eleutherodactylus
Subgenus: Pelorius
Species:
E. nortoni
Binomial name
Eleutherodactylus nortoni

Description

The five adult males in the type series measure 52–66 mm (2.0–2.6 in) in snout–vent length. The colouration is green with darker green, irregular blotches. These blotches become nearly diagonal laterally. The fore- and hindlimbs have subcircular blotches; the thighs have three bars.[2]

The male advertisement call is a series of about five rising glissando trills, ending in a semi-whistle.[2]

Habitat and conservation

The species' natural habitats are sinkhole caves in upland broadleaf forest and forest remnants at elevations of 576–1,515 m (1,890–4,970 ft) above sea level. Males are calling from tall vegetation and rocks.[1] Once considered locally not rare,[2] Eleutherodactylus nortoni is now uncommon and assessed as "critically endangered". It is threatened by habitat loss caused by logging and agriculture. It is known from the Pic Macaya and La Visite National Parks in Haiti and from Sierra de Bahoruco National Park in the Dominican Republic, but habitat degradation is occurring in these areas too.[1]

References
  1. Hedges, B.; Inchaustegui, S.; Powell, R. (2010). "Eleutherodactylus nortoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T56796A11526362. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T56796A11526362.en.
  2. Schwartz, A. (1976). "Two new species of Hispaniolan Eleutherodactylus (Leptodactylidae)". Herpetologica. 32 (2): 163–171. JSTOR 3891733.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Eleutherodactylus nortoni Schwartz, 1976". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  4. Bo Beolens; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson (22 April 2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 156. ISBN 978-1-907807-44-2.
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