Arthroleptis tanneri, the Tanzania screeching frog or Tanner's squeaker, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to the West Usambara Mountains in northeastern Tanzania; previous records from elsewhere refer to other species.[1][3]
| Arthroleptis tanneri | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Arthroleptidae |
| Genus: | Arthroleptis |
| Species: | A. tanneri
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| Binomial name | |
| Arthroleptis tanneri Grandison, 1983[2]
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Etymology
editThe specific name tanneri honours Mr John Tanner, owner of a tea estate in Mazumbai,[4] (the type locality) "in recognition of the generosity and hospitality afforded the collectors and other zoologists and his keen interest in the natural history of Mazumbai."[2]
Description
editMales in the type series measure on average 34 mm (1.3 in) and females 51 mm (2.0 in) in snout–vent length.[2] With a maximum snout-vent length of 55 mm (2.2 in), it is the largest of the Arthroleptis species.[5] The body is stoutly built. The head is slightly broader than long, with snout rounded in dorsal view. The canthus rostralis is sharp. The tympanum is clearly visible. The toes are long, slender, and without webbing. The skin is usually smooth, although a juvenile had small scattered dorsal warts. The dorsum is claret-brown, with the chain of darker vertebral markings. The hands and feet are pinkish, especially from under. The upper half of iris is pale gold.[2]
Arthroleptis tanneri resembles Arthroleptis affinis in colouration and morphology,[2] but molecular data suggest that they are not closely related.[5]
Habitat and conservation
editThe natural habitats of Arthroleptis tanneri are montane forests at elevations of 1,400–2,000 m (4,600–6,600 ft) above sea level. It is in a leaf-litter species that has not been recorded outside good-quality forest.[1] It is presumed to have direct development (i.e., no free-living tadpole stage), like all the other Arthroleptis species.[1][5]
Population trends of this species are unknown but it is believed to be in decline because of habitat loss and deterioration, which are caused by expanding agriculture, wood extraction, and human settlements. The species occurs in the Mazumbai, Baga II, Shume-Magamba Forest Reserves, although all these would need further protection. In 2015 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessed it as "Endangered" because of its small distribution area and the ongoing habitat loss and deterioration.[1]
Behavior
editScreeching Frogs all share a similar behavior that "scream" to startle predators off that can last up to 5 seconds and sounds often like a crying baby. They usually reside on the north-eastern mountains of West Usambara.[6] Feeding and mating most often takes place after a rainfall. During a sunny day they can be seen active under the shaded areas under trees. They will also fight with other males during breeding season to hold a territory to mate with a female.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2015). "Arthroleptis tanneri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T54388A16934674. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T54388A16934674.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Grandison, A. G. C. (1983). "A new species of Arthroleptis (Anura: Ranidae) from the West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). 45: 77–84. doi:10.5962/p.27996.
- ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Arthroleptis tanneri Grandison, 1983". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ Bo Beolens; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson (22 April 2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 211. ISBN 978-1-907807-44-2.
- ^ a b c Blackburn, D. (2008). "Biogeography and evolution of body size and life history of African frogs: Phylogeny of squeakers (Arthroleptis) and long-fingered frogs (Cardioglossa) estimated from mitochondrial data". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 49 (3): 806–826. Bibcode:2008MolPE..49..806B. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.08.015. PMID 18804169. [The maximum length is listed in the Appendix 1.]
- ^ "Arthroleptis tanneri Grandison, 1983 | Amphibian Species of the World". amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
- ^ "Squeakers and Cricket Frogs (Arthroleptidae) | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2022-04-25.