Limnonectes megastomias

Limnonectes megastomias is a species of frogs with fangs that was discovered in Thailand in 2008. The frog eats birds and insects. The male frogs use their fangs to attack other males in combat.[1] The species have also been known to eat other frogs.[2]

Limnonectes megastomias
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Dicroglossidae
Genus: Limnonectes
Species:
L. megastomias
Binomial name
Limnonectes megastomias
McLeod, 2008

Range

Limnonectes megastomias has been recorded from these locations in eastern Thailand (McLeod, 2008).

Morphology

Limnonectes megastomias is a robust, very large-headed fanged frog. Adult males range from 40-123.7 mm SVL and the females measure 53.5 – 86.3 mm SVL. The head is somewhat longer than wide, and males have larger heads (41-56% of SVL) than females (39-45% of SVL). Males also have thick, elongated odontoid processes, which act as “fangs.” These same processes are present in females but are reduced in size. Males have nuptial pads, consisting of tiny spines on the medial surface of Finger I and the dorsomedial surface of Finger II, above the fringe on the preaxial side. The snout is rounded when viewed from above, obtuse when viewed in profile, and protrudes beyond the lower jaw. The canthus rostralis is rounded and the loreal region is concave. The upper lip is swollen and flares out, extending as far as the post-rictal tubercle. Eyes have a diameter 15% of the head length, and the upper eyelid width is 63% of the interorbital distance. The pupil has a diamond shape. Vomerine teeth are present on oblique ridges.

References
  1. Casey, Michael (2009-09-25). "Fanged frog, 162 other new species found in Mekong". Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-01-17.
  2. "Fanged frogs case hops into court". The National. 2009-08-08. Retrieved 2010-01-17.
  3. http://www.sakaeratconservation.com/


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