Callulina laphami

Callulina laphami
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Brevicipitidae
Genus: Callulina
Species:
C. laphami
Binomial name
Callulina laphami
(Loader, Gower, Ngalason, and Menegon, 2010)
Synonyms[2]
  • Callulina laphami Loader, Gower, Ngalason, and Menegon, 2010

Lapham's warty frog (Callulina laphami) is a species of frog found in Tanzania, specifically in the North Park mountains. It has been observed at elevations between 1,730 and 2,000 meters above sea level.[2][3][1][4]

Appearance

The adult male Lapham's warty frog measures approximately 22.8–29.0 mm in snout-vent length, while the adult female is slightly larger, ranging from 33.5 to 45.4 mm. This species is distinctive within the Callulina genus due to its less-visible tympanum (eardrum) and shorter toes. The skin on its back is dark brown, while its sides are light brown, and the belly is light-colored. A bright red line often runs between its eyes, although in some individuals, this line is green.[3]

During the day, this frog sits under logs or rocks near streams. At night, it sits on medium-sized woody plants or tree branches.

Reproduction

The frog lays eggs during the dry season. The mother frog sits on the eggs until they hatch. The eggs hatch into small frogs. They are never tadpoles. The frogs become adults in about eight months.[3]

Threats

This frog is in danger of dying out because human beings change the places where the frogs live. Humans cut trees down to get wood to build with, to make places for animals to eat grass, and to build towns and cities.[3]

Name

Scientists named this frog for Lewis H. Lapham, who helped protect the animals and plants of Tanzania.[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2014). "Callulina laphami". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Frost, Darrel R. "Callulina laphami Loader, Gower, Ngalason, and Menegon, 2010". Amphibian Species of the World, an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Kellie Whittaker (October 31, 2010). Kellie Whittaker (ed.). "Callulina laphami: Loader, Gower, Ngalason, and Menegon, 2010". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  4. Loader SP; Gower DJ; Ngalason W; Menegon M (October 26, 2010). "Three new species of Callulina (Amphibia: Anura: Brevicipitidae) highlight local endemism and conservation plight of Africa's Eastern Arc forests". Zool J Linn Soc. 160 (3): 496–514. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2010.00652.x. Retrieved March 7, 2023.