Hyloxalus whymperi

Hyloxalus whymperi, sometimes known as the Tanti rocket frog, is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae. It is endemic to west-central Ecuador and only known from Tanti (a farm, the type locality) and near San Francisco de Las Pampas, Pichincha Province.[3][4] It is a poorly known species.[1]

Tanti rocket frog
Holotype from Boulenger's original species description
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Dendrobatidae
Genus: Hyloxalus
Species:
H. whymperi
Binomial name
Hyloxalus whymperi
(Boulenger, 1882)
Synonyms
  • Protherapis Whymperi Boulenger, 1882[2]
  • Colostethus whymperi (Boulenger, 1882)

Etymology

Hyloxalus whymperi is named after Edward Whymper, who collected the holotype during his expedition to Ecuador in 1879–1880.[2][5]

Taxonomy

The holotype from Tanti is in poor condition, allowing describing few characters precisely. Frogs from Francisco de Las Pampas resemble the holotype and the original description, but until fresh material from the type locality are obtained, their true identity remains uncertain. It may be the same species as Ameerega erythromos (Vigle & Miyata, 1980), although the latter is a different species from the specimens from Francisco de Las Pampas.[6]

Description

Males measure 21–23 mm (0.83–0.91 in) in snout–vent length and have moderately robust body (adult females are unknown[6]). Abdomen is black with white spots. Skin on all surfaces is smooth.[4][6]

Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitats are very humid premontane forests. Breeding habitat is unknown but presumably the tadpoles develop in streams. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by agriculture and logging.[1]

References
  1. Coloma, L.A.; Ron, S.; Yánez-Muñoz, M.; Cisneros-Heredia, D. & Almandáriz, A. (2004). "Hyloxalus whymperi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T55167A11262812. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T55167A11262812.en. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  2. Boulenger, G. A. (1882). "Account of the reptiles and batrachians collected by Mr. Edward Whymper in Ecuador in 1879–80". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Series 5. 9: 457–467. doi:10.1080/00222938209459079.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Hyloxalus whymperi (Boulenger, 1882)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  4. Coloma, LA; Ortiz, DA; Frenkel, C. (2010). "Hyloxalus whymperi". Ron, S. R., Guayasamin, J. M., Yanez-Muñoz, M. H., Merino-Viteri, A., Ortiz, D. A. y Nicolalde, D. A. 2014. AmphibiaWebEcuador. Version 2014.0. Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ). Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  5. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. ISBN 978-1-907807-44-2.
  6. Coloma, L. A. (1995). "Ecuadorian frogs of the genus Colostethus (Anura: Dendrobatidae)". Miscellaneous Publication, Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas. 87: 1–72.
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