Alcalus

Alcalus
Alcalus tasanae from Thailand
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ceratobatrachidae
Subfamily: Alcalinae
Brown [fr], Siler, Richards [fr], Diesmos [fr], and Cannatella [fr], 2015[1]
Genus: Alcalus
Brown, Siler, Richards, Diesmos, and Cannatella, 2015[1]
Type species
Micrixalus mariae
Inger, 1954
Species

5 species (see text)

Alcalus is a small genus of frogs in the family Ceratobatrachidae.[2][3] It is the only member of the subfamily Alcalinae. Its sister taxon is Ceratobatrachinae.[4] Common name Alcala's dwarf mountain frogs has been proposed for the genus. They are found in Palawan Island (the Philippines), Borneo, and the Malay Peninsula.[2] They prefer semi-aquatic microhabitats.[1]

Etymology

The genus is named in honour of Angel Alcala, a Filipino biologist who has worked with Southeast Asian amphibians.[1]

Description

Compared to the closely related genera Cornufer and Platymantis, Alcalus have an intermediate body size (based on Alcalus baluensis and A. mariae, males measure 20–37 mm (0.79–1.46 in) and females 26–43 mm (1.0–1.7 in) in snout–vent length). The head is broad. Skin is coarsely textured, shagreened, or ‘wrinkled’ in appearance. The toe discs are widely expanded; inter-digital webbing is extensive. Males have nuptial pads but lack vocal sacs.[1]

Species

There are five species:[2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Brown, Rafe M.; Siler, Cameron D.; Richards, Stephen J.; Diesmos, Arvin C. & Cannatella, David C. (2015). "Multilocus phylogeny and a new classification for Southeast Asian and Melanesian forest frogs (family Ceratobatrachidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 174 (1): 130–168. doi:10.1111/zoj.12232.
  2. ^ a b c Frost, Darrel R. (2020). "Alcalus Brown, Siler, Richards, Diesmos, and Cannatella, 2015". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Ceratobatrachidae". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  4. ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2020). "Alcalinae Brown, Siler, Richards, Diesmos, and Cannatella, 2015". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 21 June 2020.