Cophixalus parkeri

Cophixalus parkeri
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Genus: Cophixalus
Species:
C. parkeri
Binomial name
Cophixalus parkeri
Loveridge, 1948
Synonyms[3]

Cophixalus variegatus parkeri Loveridge, 1948[2]

Cophixalus parkeri is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea where it occurs in the central mountainous region between Chimbu and Morobe Provinces.[1][3] The specific name parkeri presumably honours Hampton Wildman Parker, an English zoologist and herpetologist[4] to whose perusal Arthur Loveridge sent the holotype.[2] Common name Papua rainforest frog has been coined for it.[3]

Names

In the Kalam language of Papua New Guinea, mature C. parkeri are known as kabanm, while immature specimens are called lk [lɨk].[5]

Description

Maximum snout–vent length is 31 mm (1.2 in).[6] The snout is slightly prominent and obtusely pointed. The tympanum is distinct and about half the diameter of the eye.[2] The canthus rostralis is angular.[6] Fingers have large discs whereas toes have slightly smaller discs; the toes are unwebbed. Skin is smooth with scattered tubercles. The holotype has a pale, broad interocular band,[2] but the majority of specimens do not show this. Most specimens do not have distinct dorsal patterns but have a dark brown dorsum that grades rather abruptly into the pale reddish tan flanks. The lower parts are usually mottled with dark gray on a light tan background, but can occasionally be nearly uniform. Males have a median subgular vocal sac.[6]

The male advertisement call is a group of short buzzing notes (usually four).[7]

Habitat and conservation

Cophixalus parkeri inhabits montane rainforest and forest edges at elevations of 2,200–2,650 m (7,220–8,690 ft) above sea level. It occurs in vegetation up to one metre above ground at night and in leaf litter during the daytime. Reproduction is through direct development (no free-living larval stage).[1]

This species is distributed in a remote area where it is unlikely to be threatened. It is not known to be present in any protected areas.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Cophixalus parkeri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T57782A152550118. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T57782A152550118.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Loveridge, Arthur (1948). "New Guinean reptiles and amphibians in the Museum of Comparative Zoology and United States National Museum". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 101: 305–430.
  3. ^ a b c Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Cophixalus parkeri Loveridge, 1948". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  4. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael & Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. pp. 162–163. ISBN 978-1-907807-42-8.
  5. ^ Bulmer, RNH (1975). Kalam Classification Of Reptiles And Fishes Archived 2020-12-01 at the Wayback Machine. Journal of the Polynesian Society 84(3): 267–308.
  6. ^ a b c Zweifel, Richard George (1962). "Frogs of the microhylid genus Cophixalus from the mountains of New Guinea". American Museum Novitates (2087): 1–26. hdl:2246/3455.
  7. ^ Zweifel, Richard George (1979). "A new cryptic species of microhylid frog (genus Cophixalus) from Papua New Guinea, with notes on related forms". American Museum Novitates (2678): 1–14. hdl:2246/5437.