Tepuihyla exophthalma

Tepuihyla exophthalma is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is native to Guyana and Venezuela in South America.[1]

Tepuihyla exophthalma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Tepuihyla
Species:
T. exophthalma
Binomial name
Tepuihyla exophthalma
(Smith & Noonan, 2001)
Synonyms

Osteocephalus exophthalmus Smith & Noonan, 2001

This species was first described to science in 2001. The type specimen was collected in the Pacaraima Mountains in western Guyana.[2] There it inhabited sclerophyll forest habitat and was observed to be active at night.[2]

This is the smallest member of the genus Osteocephalus, measuring just over 3 centimeters in length. Its eyes are described as "large and bulgy" and "huge and protruding" and inspired the specific epithet exophthalmus. They are buff with a black cross shape across the iris; this eye coloration is a main feature that distinguishes the species from other frogs in the genus. Its body is brownish above and cream-colored below, and the back surface of the thighs are black. The vocal sac of the male is not well developed. The skin is mostly smooth with a few tubercles along the dorsal surface and a granular texture to the throat and belly.[2]

After the first specimen was recorded, the species was also discovered living in Guyana's Kaieteur National Park and across the border in Estado Bolívar, Venezuela.[1]

References
  1. Barrio-Amorós, C. L. (2010). Amphibia, Hylidae, Osteocephalus exophthalmus Smith and Noonan, 2001: New country record and geographic distribution map, Venezuela. CheckList 6(3) 463-64.
  2. Smith, E. N. and B. P. Noonan. (2001). A new species of Osteocephalus (Anura: Hylidae) from Guyana. Revista de Biología Tropical 49(1) 347-57.


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