Peralta frog
The Peralta frog, or montane leopard frog, Lithobates taylori, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae found in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.[2][3]
Peralta frog | |
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four animals from one garden in Costa Rica | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Family: | Ranidae |
Genus: | Lithobates |
Species: | L. taylori |
Binomial name | |
Lithobates taylori (Smith, 1959) | |
Synonyms | |
Rana taylori Smith, 1959 |
Etymology
The specific name taylori honors Edward Harrison Taylor (1889–1978), an American herpetologist.[4]
Description
Peralta frogs are relatively large frogs, 6–8.5 cm (2.4–3.3 in) in snout–vent length. Colouration of dorsum is tan, green, or gray, often with large elongated black spots with clear edges. The dorsolateral folds are clear but become discontinuous towards the back. Belly is white. Feet are extensively webbed.[3]
Habitat and conservation
Peralta frog is a nocturnal, semi-aquatic frog inhabiting ponds, swamps, and marshes in lowland wet forest, premontane moist and wet forests, and rainforest. Breeding takes place during the wet season. The eggs are attached to aquatic vegetation.[1][3] The tadpoles develop in these wetlands. It may be threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation, possibly by also water pollution from agricultural pesticides.[1]
References
- Bolaños, F.; Chaves, G.; Savage, J. & Köhler, G. (2008). "Lithobates taylori". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T58732A11833158. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T58732A11833158.en.
- Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Lithobates taylori (Smith, 1959)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- Luis Humberto Elizondo C.; Federico Bolaños V. (2011). "Lithobates taylori". Biodiversidad de Costa Rica. Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. pp. 331–332. ISBN 978-1-907807-42-8.