Noblella myrmecoides is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is found in the upper Amazon Basin of southeastern Colombia (Amazonas Department), eastern Ecuador (Orellana Province), eastern Peru (Loreto, San Martín, Huánuco, Cusco, and Madre de Dios Regions), Bolivia (Departments of Cochabamba and La Paz), and western Brazil (Amazonas).[3][4] Common name Loreto leaf frog has been coined for this species.[3]

Noblella myrmecoides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Strabomantidae
Genus: Noblella
Species:
N. myrmecoides
Binomial name
Noblella myrmecoides
(Lynch, 1976)
Synonyms[3]
  • Euparkerella myrmecoides Lynch, 1976[2]
  • Phyllonastes myrmecoides (Lynch, 1976)

Etymology

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The specific name myrmecoides is derived from Greek myrmex and -oides, meaning "ant-like", and refers to the small size of the species.[2][5]

Description

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Noblella myrmecoides is a small species: adult males measure 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) and females 12–15 mm (0.47–0.59 in) in snout–vent length (SVL).[2][5][6] The head is nearly as wide as the body and wider than it is long, and the snout is short. The tympanum is distinct. The fingers and toes are unwebbed; the fingers bear no discs whereas the tips of the toes bear dilated pads and discs. Dorsal skin is slightly granular.[2][5] The coloration is variable, between light grayish brown to reddish brown. The venter is dark gray or dark brown.[5]

A female measuring 12 mm (0.47 in) SVL contained six mature eggs 1.65–2 mm (0.065–0.079 in) in diameter.[2] It is presumed that the development is direct, i.e., the eggs hatch directly into froglets, bypassing free-living larval stage.[1]

Habitat and conservation

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Noblella myrmecoides is a reasonably abundant species that inhabits lowland, premontane, and montane primary tropical moist forests[1] at elevations between 90 and 1,200 m (300 and 3,940 ft) above sea level.[1][4] It is a leaf-litter species. While much suitable habitat remains, it is locally threatened by habitat loss caused by, e.g., clear cutting and smallholder agriculture. It is present in the Manú National Park, Peru.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Karl-Heinz Jungfer, Marinus Hoogmoed, Ariadne Angulo, Robert Reynolds, Javier Icochea, Claudia Azevedo-Ramos (2010). "Noblella myrmecoides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T57235A11606716. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T57235A11606716.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e Lynch, John D. (1976). "Two new species of frogs of the genus Euparkerella (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae) from Ecuador and Perú". Herpetologica. 32 (1): 48–53. JSTOR 3891900.
  3. ^ a b c Frost, Darrel R. (2022). "Noblella myrmecoides (Lynch, 1976)". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b Acosta Galvis, A. R.; D. Cuentas (2017). "Noblella myrmecoides (Lynch, 1976)". Lista de los Anfibios de Colombia V.07.2017.0. www.batrachia.com. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d Frenkel, C.; et al. (2011–2014). "Noblella myrmecoides". Ron, S. R., Guayasamin, J. M., Yanez-Muñoz, M. H., Merino-Viteri, A., Ortiz, D. A. and Nicolalde, D. A. 2016. AmphibiaWebEcuador. Version 2016.0. Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ). Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  6. ^ Harvey, M. B.; Almendáriz, A.; M., Brito M.; Batallas R., D. (2013). "A new species of Noblella (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the Amazonian Slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes with comments on Noblella lochites (Lynch)". Zootaxa. 3635 (1): 1–14. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3635.1.1.