Palawan toadlet

Palawan toadlet
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Pelophryne
Species: P. albotaeniata
Binomial name
Pelophryne albotaeniata
Barbour, 1938

The Palawan toadlet or white-striped flathead toad (Pelophryne albotaeniata) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Palawan, the Philippines.[2]

Pelophryne albotaeniata is similar to Pelophryne misera from Borneo, and it might be subspecies of the latter.[2][3]

Description

Pelophryne albotaeniata is small, moderately slender-bodied bufonid. Males measure 18–20 mm (0.71–0.79 in) and females 19–23 mm (0.75–0.91 in) in snout–vent length. There are no parotoids or cranial crests. Tympanum is distinct. Dorsal skin has irregularly distributed tubercles interspersed with small spinules. The throat is uniform cream.[4]

Habitat and conservation

The species' natural habitats are montane and lowland forests near streams. It is threatened by habitat loss.[1]

Pelophryne albotaeniata is a rare species.[1] It had only been seen once in the 40 years before its rediscovery during a biodiversity survey carried out in late 2014 and early 2015. The survey was part of a project to create a new reserve called Cleopatra’s Needle Forest Reserve.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Diesmos, A., Alcala, A., Brown, R., Afuang, L., Gee, G., Hampson, K., Diesmos, M.L., Mallari, A., Ong, P., Ubaldo, D.& Gutierrez, B. (2004). "Pelophryne albotaeniata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Pelophryne albotaeniata Barbour, 1938". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  3. Inger, R.F. (1966). "The systematics and zoogeography of the amphibia of Borneo". Fieldiana Zoology 52: 1–402. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.3147.
  4. Inger, Robert F. (1954). "Systematics and zoogeography of Philippine amphibia". Fieldiana: Zoology 33 (4): 183–531.
  5. "Two rare amphibians lost to science re-discovered in the Philippines". Amphibian Survival Alliance, Latest News. Amphibians.org. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
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