Cophixalus balbus

Cophixalus balbus is a species of frogs in the family Microhylidae. Molecular data suggest that it might belong to the genus Oreophryne. It is known from the vicinity of its type locality in Yapen island, Papua Province, Indonesia, as well as from the Hunstein Mountains (East Sepik Province) and Bewani and Torricelli Mountains (West Sepik Province) in Papua New Guinea.[3]

Cophixalus balbus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Genus: Cophixalus
Species:
C. balbus
Binomial name
Cophixalus balbus
Günther, 2003[2]

Etymology

The specific name balbus is Latin for "stuttering". This refers to its advertisement call: the first part of the call consists of single notes at relative longer intervals, followed by the second part where intervals are shorter and notes come in groups—this gives an impression of stuttering.[2]

Description

Cophixalus balbus are small frogs, though relatively large among Cophixalus: adult males measure 26–28 mm (1.0–1.1 in) in snout–vent length. Head is large and as wide as long. Ground colour is yellowish-brownish, with dorsal surfaces covered with small warts. There is a conspicuous, dark grey W-shaped mark in the scapular region.[2]

Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitat are patches of primary and secondary rainforest.[1] The Yapen island records are from elevations of 600–700 m (2,000–2,300 ft) above sea level, with uncertain records from lower elevations. All specimens were found perched on fern fronds or on shrubs up to 3 m above the ground.[2] The New Guinean records are from 210–1,000 m (690–3,280 ft) a.s.l.[4]

There are no known threats to this species.[1]

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Cophixalus balbus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T57772A151697794. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  2. Günther, Rainer (2003). "First record of the microhylid frog genus Cophixalus from western Papua, Indonesia, with descriptions of two new species (Anura: Microhylidae)" (PDF). Herpetozoa. 16 (1/2): 3–21.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Cophixalus balbus Günther, 2003". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  4. Kraus, Fred; Allison, Allen (2006). "Range extensions for reptiles and amphibians along the northern versant of Papua New Guinea" (PDF). Herpetological Review. 37 (3): 364–368.
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