The Seychelles palm frog (Sechellophryne pipilodryas) is a species of frog that is endemic to Silhouette Island in the Seychelles.[3] It is closely related to Gardiner's frog, Sechellophryne gardineri.
| Seychelles palm frog | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Sooglossidae |
| Genus: | Sechellophryne |
| Species: | S. pipilodryas
|
| Binomial name | |
| Sechellophryne pipilodryas (Gerlach and Willi, 2002)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Sooglossus pipilodryas Gerlach and Willi, 2002[2] | |
The Seychelles palm frog inhabits forests higher than 150 m (490 ft) above sea level and is closely associated with the palm Phoenicophorium borsigianum (another Seychelles endemic); most individuals are found in axils of the palm.[1] It is the most arboreal of the Sooglossidae. As a result, the palm frog is the most recent species of the family to have been discovered (in 2000).[4]
The reproductive biology of this species is unknown, but it is presumed to involve direct development, i.e. eggs that hatch directly into froglets.[1][4]
IUCN has reassessed the species in 2012 and concluded that Seychelles palm frog should be considered as "Critically Endangered" because of its small area of occupancy (about 7 km2), decline in population size, and threats to its habitat. Its earlier (2004) classification was only "Vulnerable".[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Sechellophryne pipilodryas". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T59048A15435789. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T59048A15435789.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Gerlach, J.; Willi, J. (2002). "A new species of Sooglossus frog (Sooglossidae)". Amphibia-Reptilia. 23 (4): 445–498. doi:10.1163/15685380260462356.
- ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2013). "Sechellophryne pipilodryas (Gerlach and Willi, 2003)". Amphibian Species of the World 5.6, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- ^ a b Stuart, Simon N.; Michael Hoffmann; Janice S. Chanson; Neil A. Cox; Richard J. Berridge; Pavithra Ramani; Bruce E. Young, eds. (2008). Threatened Amphibians of the World. Lynx Edicions, IUCN, Conservation International.
External links
edit- Monitoring and research into the amphibians and reptiles of Seychelles
- Image of the Seychelles palm frog
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