Tepuihyla exophthalma is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is native to Guyana and Venezuela in South America.[2]
| Tepuihyla exophthalma | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hylidae |
| Genus: | Tepuihyla |
| Species: | T. exophthalma
|
| Binomial name | |
| Tepuihyla exophthalma (Smith & Noonan, 2001)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Osteocephalus exophthalmus Smith & Noonan, 2001 | |
This species was first described to science in 2001. The type specimen was collected in the Pacaraima Mountains in western Guyana.[3] There it inhabited sclerophyll forest habitat and was observed to be active at night.[3]
This is the smallest member of the genus Osteocephalus, measuring just over 3 centimeters in length. Its eyes are described as "large and bulgy" and "huge and protruding" and inspired the specific epithet exophthalmus. They are buff with a black cross shape across the iris; this eye coloration is a main feature that distinguishes the species from other frogs in the genus. Its body is brownish above and cream-colored below, and the back surface of the thighs are black. The vocal sac of the male is not well developed. The skin is mostly smooth with a few tubercles along the dorsal surface and a granular texture to the throat and belly.[3]
After the first specimen was recorded, the species was also discovered living in Guyana's Kaieteur National Park and across the border in Estado Bolívar, Venezuela.[2]
References
edit- ^ IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Tepuihyla exophthalma". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T79719247A79719303. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T79719247A79719303.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ a b Barrio-Amorós, C. L. (2010). Amphibia, Hylidae, Osteocephalus exophthalmus Smith and Noonan, 2001: New country record and geographic distribution map, Venezuela. CheckList 6(3) 463-64.
- ^ a b c Smith, E. N. and B. P. Noonan. (2001). A new species of Osteocephalus (Anura: Hylidae) from Guyana. Revista de Biología Tropical 49(1) 347-57.
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