Cameroon forest tree frog

The Cameroon forest tree frog, Leptopelis brevirostris, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae.[1][2][3][4] It is found in southern Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (including the island of Bioko), and Gabon. It is expected to occur in southwestern Central African Republic and in the Republic of the Congo, but no records have been confirmed from those countries.[1][2]

Cameroon forest tree frog

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Arthroleptidae
Genus: Leptopelis
Species:
L. brevirostris
Binomial name
Leptopelis brevirostris
(Werner, 1898)
Synonyms

Hylambates brevirostris Werner, 1898

Description

Adult males measure 38–45 mm (1.5–1.8 in) and females 49–64 mm (1.9–2.5 in) in snout–vent length. The dorsum is smooth, green, beige, or grey, and either uniform or with a darker dorsal spot reaching the upper eyelid. The ventrum is white. The snout is very brief (hence the specific name brevirostris). The tympanum is present and oriented obliquely.[4]

Reproduction

The male advertisement call is a rather tonal, brief "tok", repeated once or twice (sometimes even three times). The males call at sites far from water (ponds or puddles).[4] This, together with the large (diameter 5 mm (0.20 in)) and heavily yolked eggs, suggests that L. brevirostris has direct development, i.e. there is no free-living tadpole stage. This would be different from the general pattern of Leptopelis having aquatic larvae.[4][5]

Habitat and conservation

The species' natural habitat is mature, closed-canopy lowland rainforest.[1] It appears to be a specializeed snail-eater. The males call from branches and lianas, normally not higher than 3 metres above the ground, and can be abundant.[1][4]

Leptopelis brevirostris is a common species, but its habitat is impacted by agricultural expansion, logging, and human settlements. It occurs in a number of protected areas, including the Korup National Park in Cameroon and Monte Alén National Park in Equatorial Guinea.[1]

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References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Leptopelis brevirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T56247A18386575. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T56247A18386575.en.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Leptopelis brevirostris (Werner, 1898)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  3. "Leptopelis brevirostris (Werner, 1898)". African Amphibians. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  4. "Leptopelis brevirostris". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2008. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  5. Müller, Hendrik; Loader, Simon P.; Ngalason, Wilirk; Howell, Kim M.; Gower, David J. (2007). "Reproduction in brevicipitid frogs (Amphibia: Anura: Brevicipitidae)—evidence from Probreviceps m. macrodactylus". Copeia. 2007 (3): 726–733. doi:10.1643/0045-8511(2007)2007[726:RIBFAA]2.0.CO;2.
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