Oreophryne geislerorum

Oreophryne geislerorum (also known as the Madang cross frog) is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea where it is known from the northern coast between the tip of the Huon Peninsula and south and east to Kokoda and Popondetta.[1][2][3][4] The specific name geislerorum honours two German taxidermists, Bruno Geisler and his brother Herbert Geisler.[5]

Oreophryne geislerorum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Genus: Oreophryne
Species:
O. geislerorum
Binomial name
Oreophryne geislerorum
(Boettger, 1892)
Synonyms[2]

Cophixalus geislerorum Boettger, 1892

Description

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Adult males measure 21–27 mm (0.83–1.06 in) and adult females 24–29 mm (0.94–1.14 in) in snout–vent length. The canthus rostralis is moderately distinct. The tympanum is barely distinct. The fingers and the toes have well-developed terminal disks. The fingers have no webbing whereas the toes have basal webbing. The dorsum is yellowish brown to brown. Darker markings may be present. The ventrum is yellow to grayish white.[3]

The male advertisement call is "harsh" with rapidly repeated notes. Individual notes are not discernible to the human ear. The rate of repetition varies considerably between individuals, about 50–135 notes per second, but is more constant for individual frogs.[3]

Habitat and conservation

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Oreophryne geislerorum occurs in rainforests, rural gardens, and urban areas at elevations up to about 1,400 m (4,600 ft) above sea level[1] Active by night, males call from shrubs and trees, sometimes high up. They have been observed to lay eggs inside the stalk of a banana leaf near the main stem.[3] Development is direct, without free-living tadpole stage.[1]

Oreophryne geislerorum is a very common, adaptable species that is not facing any known threats. Its range includes the Kamiali Wildlife Management Area.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Oreophryne geislerorum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T57914A152552144. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T57914A152552144.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Oreophryne geislerorum (Boettger, 1892)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d Zweifel, Richard G.; Menzies, James I. & Price, David S. (2003). "Systematics of microhylid frogs, genus Oreophryne, from the north coast region of New Guinea". American Museum Novitates (3415): 1–31. doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2003)415<0001:SOMFGO>2.0.CO;2. hdl:2246/2844.
  4. ^ "Oreophryne geislerorum". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  5. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael & Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 77. ISBN 978-1-907807-42-8.