Petropedetes is a genus of frogs in the family Petropedetidae, found in sub-saharan tropical Africa.[1] In 2002, the genus absorbed all three species of the genus Arthroleptides, but they were moved back in 2014. The informally assigned common name for frogs in this genus (and for frogs in certain other genera) is torrent frogs.
| Petropedetes | |
|---|---|
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| Petropedetes cameronensis | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Petropedetidae |
| Genus: | Petropedetes Reichenow, 1874 |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
The following species are recognised in the genus Petropedetes:[2]
- Petropedetes cameronensis (Reichenow, 1874)
- Petropedetes euskircheni (Barej et al., 2010)
- Petropedetes johnstoni (Boulenger, 1888)
- Petropedetes juliawurstnerae (Barej et al., 2010)
- Petropedetes newtonii (Bocage, 1895) – Barej et al. (2010) considers P. darwinii occurring in Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea) a synonym of P. johnstoni.[3]
- Petropedetes palmipes Boulenger, 1905
- Petropedetes parkeri (Amiet, 1983)
- Petropedetes perreti (Amiet, 1973)
- Petropedetes vulpiae (Barej et al., 2010)
Description
editThe genus Petropedetes is characterized by the following features: elongated and cordiform-shaped tongue, free and notched at the back; vomerine teeth behind the choanae, closer to each other than the choanae; unwebbed fingers; and a distinct tympanum.[4][5] Additionally, P. nanator lack absence of tympanic papilla in breeding males.[6]
Perett (1966) has denoted the osteological characteristics as robust and straight clavicles; a hardly bifurcated omosternum; and T-shaped terminal phalanges.[7] These changes vary per species and do not apply to all.
The West African specie Petropedetes natator are identical with other genus members on the basis of toes and fingertips, and the presence of femoral glands in males. However, they differ by the presence of morphological features such as external voice sacs, mandibular fangs, a ridge on the tongue and conformation of the rheophilous tadpole, from the Central African species.[8][9][10]
The three East African species P. martiensenni, P. yakunsini, and P. dutoiti match the Central African species by the shape of finger limbs, presence of tympanic papilla and femoral glands.[6] P yakusini males also share anatomical features such as enlarged arms and spines on throat, with the Central African species.[11]
Nevertheless, all East African species are distinct from Central African on the basis of lacking vomerine teeth.[12][13]
Habitat and Behavior
editP. parkeri are found in wet, mossy rocks in the forest. They inhabit large rocks crossed by small streams and gather on humid rocky surfaces near torrent water during breeding season. Outside of breeding season these species are found on leaves.[14]
P. euskircheni reside at higher altitudes such as Mt. Kupe and Mt. Nlonako in Cameroon. They have been observed near fast-flowing rivers and on tree and palm trunks.[1][citation needed]
P. perreti inhabit lowland areas of Southern Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon, especially the southern slopes of the Bamiléké Plateau. They lay their clutches on rock surfaces within the splash zones, along mountain streams above 1200 meters. [15]
P. cameronensis occur mainly in lowland, but also from highlands found with P. perreti.[15] This species is known from coastal Cameroonian lowland, south of Limbe. Some occurrences are also noted in Eastern Nigeria.[9][16] Males are observed guarding clutches of eggs at night. [17]
P. juliawurstnerae is known from Mt. Kupe and Meked, adjacent to Bakossi mountains. They settle in riverine vegetation or algae-covered stones 10-20 cm above ground level, occurring in syntopy with P. euskircheni. [18][citation needed]
P. palmipes populate Southern Cameroon,[7] Equatorial Guinea,[19][20] and Gabon.[21] As per Barej et al. (2010)[4], there is little data on the biology of this species. These have been observed in primary forests, Clutches are glued to submerged rocks, while tadpoles are located in stagnant parts of rivers beneath small rapids.[8]
P vulpiae is associated with rocky forest streams and caves Eastern Nigeria and Republic of Congo.[4][22]
P newtonii is found near sea level to 1km above, on Bokio and coastal Cameroon. Juveniles may be found away from water. Collectively, specimens can be found near streams or low vegetations, but occasionally a few feet above waters.[23]
P johnstonii inhabits lowland and mangove forests. The species does not rely on water for reproduction. Males are seen guarding the nests and clutches which are sited slightly above ground level.
References
edit- ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Petropedetidae Noble, 1931". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ^ "Names assigned to genus Petropedetes". Amphibian Species of the World 5.5 Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
- ^ IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Petropedetes johnstoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T58079A3065109. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T58079A3065109.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Barej, Michael; S. G. Pauwels, Olivier; Rödel, Mark-Oliver; Böhme, Wolfgang (2010). "Review of the genus Petropedetes Reichenow, 1874 in Central Africa with the description of three new species (Amphibia: Anura: Petropedetidae)". Zootaxa. Magnolia Press: 4 – via ResearchGate.
- ^ Reichnow, A. (1874). "Eine Sammlung Lurche und Kriechthiere von Westafrika" [A collection of amphibians and reptiles from West Africa]. Archiv für Naturgeschichte (in German): 287–298.
- ^ a b Klemens, M.W. (1998). "The male nuptial characteristics of Arthroleptides martiensseni Nieden, an endemic torrent frog from Tanzania's Eastern Arc Mountains". Herpetological Journal. 8: 35–40.
- ^ a b Perett, J.-L (1966). "Les amphibiens du Cameroun" [The Amphibians of Cameroon]. Zoologische Jahrbücher, Abt. Für Systematik, Ökologie und Geographie der Tiere (in German). 8: 289–464.
- ^ a b Lamotte, M.; Perett, J.-L; Dzieduszycka, S. (1959). "Contribution à l'étude des Batraciens de l'Ouest africain. - IX. Les formes larvaires de Petropedetes palmipes, Conraua goliath et Acanthixalus spinosus" [Contribution to the study of Amphibians of West Africa. - IX. Larval forms of Petropedetes palmipes, Conraua goliath, and Acanthixalus spinosus]. Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Afrique Noire (in French). A (21): 726–776.
- ^ a b Perett, J.-L (1984). "Identification de Petropedetes obscurus Ahl, 1924 (Amphibia, Phrynobatrachinae), conservés au Muséum de Berlin" [Identification of Petropedetes obscurus Ahl, 1924 (Amphibia, hrynobatrachinae), preserved at the Museum of Berlin.]. Bulletin de la Société Neuchâteloise des Sciences Naturelles (in French). 107: 165–170.
- ^ Amiet, J.-L (1989). "Quelques aspects de la biologie des Amphibiens Anoures du Cameroun" [Some aspects of the biology of Anuran Amphibians from Cameroon]. L'Année biologique (in French). 28: 73–136.
- ^ Channing, A.; Moyer, D.C.; Howell, K.M. (2002). "Description of a new torrent frog in the genus Arthroleptides from Tanzania (Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae)". Alytes. 20: 13–27.
- ^ Nieden, F. (1911). "Verzeichnis der bei Amani in Deutschostafrika vorkommenden Reptilien und Amphibien" [List of reptiles and amphibians occurring at Amani in German East Africa]. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin (in German): 441–452.
- ^ Loveridge, A. (1935). "Scientific results of an expedition to rain forest regions in Eastern Africa I. new reptiles and amphibians from East Africa". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy. 79: 1–19.
- ^ Sanderson, I.T. (1936). "The amphibians of the Mamfe Division, Cameroon. - II. Ecology of the frogs". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 106: 165–208. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1936.tb02285.x.
- ^ a b Amiet, J.-L (1973). "Caractères diagnostiques de Petropedetes perreti, nov. sp. et notes sur les autres espèces camerounaises du genre (Amphibiens Anoures)" [Diagnostic characters of Petropedetes perreti, nov. sp. and notes on other Cameroonian species of the genus (Anuran Amphibians)]. Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Afrique Noire (in French). Series A (35): 462–474.
- ^ Schiøtz, A. (1963). "The amphibians of Nigeria". Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra Dansk Naturhistorisk Forening I København. 125: 1–92.
- ^ Amiet, J.-L (1991). "Images d'Amphibiens camerounais. IV. Les constructeurs de nids" [Images of Cameroonian Amphibians. IV. The Nest Builders.]. Alytes. 9: 71–77.
- ^ Euskirchen, O.; Böhme, W. (1999). "Zur Herpetofauna einer montanen Regenwaldregion in SW-Kamerun (Mt. Kupe und Bakossi-Bergland). II. Arthroleptidae, Ranidae und Phrynobatrachidae" [On the herpetofauna of a montane rainforest region in SW Cameroon (Mt. Kupe and Bakossi Highlands). II. Arthroleptidae, Ranidae, and Phrynobatrachidae]. Herpetofauna (in German). 21: 25–34.
- ^ de la Riva, I. "Anfibios anuros del Parque Nacional de Monte Alén, Río Muni, Guinea Equatorial" [Anuran amphibians of Monte Alén National Park, Río Muni, Equatorial Guinea]. Revista Española de Herpetología (in Spanish). 8: 123–139.
- ^ Lasso, C.A.; Rial, A.I.; Castroviejo, J.; de la Riva, I. (2002). "Herpetofauna del Parque Nacionale de Monte Alén (Río Muni, Guinea Equatorial)" [Herpetofauna of Monte Alén National Park (Río Muni, Equatorial Guinea).]. Graellsia. 58 (2): 21–34. doi:10.3989/graellsia.2002.v58.i2.276.
- ^ Lötters, S.; Gossmann, V.; Obame, F.; Böhme, W. (2001). "Zur Herpetofauna Gabuns Teil I: Einleitung, Untersuchungsgebiet und Methodik, kommentierte Artenliste der gefundenen Froschlurche" [On the Herpetofauna of Gabon Part I: Introduction, Study Area and Methodology, Annotated Species List of the Found Anurans]. Herpetofauna. 23: 19–34.
- ^ S G Pauwels, Olivier; Carlino, Piero; Chirio, Laurent; Testa, Olivier; R Daversa, David; Lips, Josiane; Oslisly, Richard (2019). "Amphibians and Reptiles Found in Caves in Gabon, Western Equatorial Africa". Cave and Karst Science. 46 (1): 7.
- ^ Sánchez-Vialas, Alberto; Calvo-Revuelta, Marta; Castroviejo-Fisher, Santiago; de la Riva, Ignacio (2018). "The Taxonomic Status of Petropedetes newtonii (Amphibia, Anura, Petropedetidae)". ZooKeys (765): 59–78. Bibcode:2018ZooK..765...59S. doi:10.3897/zookeys.765.24764. PMC 5999683. PMID 29904270.