Aromobates Explained

Aromobates, sometimes known as the skunk frogs, is a genus of frogs from the Andes of Venezuela and Colombia. Originally a monotypic genus consisting of the skunk frog, Aromobates nocturnus alone, it was later^[1] expanded to include Nephelobates. These frogs are difficult to differentiate from Allobates without using molecular markers.^[2]

Etymology

The generic name derives from the Latin aroma, meaning "sweet odor".^[3] The odor of the type species, Aromobates nocturnus, is reminiscent of a skunk.^[4]

Description

Aromobates are small to medium-sized frogs that have cryptic colouration. They have robust body form and basal to extensive toe webbing. For example, the relatively small Aromobates meridensis and Aromobates walterarpi are around 3cm (01inches) in snout–vent length and have basal webbing only, whereas the relatively large Aromobates nocturnus (up to 62mm SVL in females) have webbed feet.^[5]

Species

There are 18 species,^[2] many of them endangered:^[6]

• Aromobates alboguttatus (Boulenger, 1903) (Possibly Extinct)
• Aromobates cannatellai Barrio-Amorós and Santos, 2012
• Aromobates capurinensis (Péfaur, 1993)
• Aromobates duranti (Péfaur, 1985) (Critically Endangered)
• Aromobates ericksonae Barrio-Amorós and Santos, 2012
• Aromobates haydeeae (Rivero, 1978) (Possibly Extinct)
• Aromobates leopardalis (Rivero, 1978) (Possibly Extinct)
• Aromobates mayorgai (Rivero, 1980) (Endangered)
• Aromobates meridensis (Dole and Durant, 1972) (Critically Endangered)
• Aromobates molinarii (La Marca, 1985) (Critically Endangered)
• Aromobates nocturnus Myers, Paolillo-O., and Daly, 1991 (Critically Endangered)
• Aromobates ornatissimus Barrio-Amorós, Rivero, and Santos, 2011
• Aromobates orostoma (Rivero, 1978) (Critically Endangered)
• Aromobates saltuensis (Rivero, 1980) (Endangered)
• Aromobates serranus (Péfaur, 1985) (Possibly Extinct)
• Aromobates tokuko Rojas-Runjaic, Infante-Rivero, and Barrio-Amorós, 2011
• Aromobates walterarpi La Marca and Otero-López, 2012
• Aromobates zippeli Barrio-Amorós and Santos, 2012

Notes and References

1. Grant, T. . Frost, D. R. . Caldwell, J. P. . Gagliardo, R. . Haddad, C. F. B. . Kok, P. J. R. . Means, D. B. . Noonan, B. P. . Schargel, W. E. . Wheeler, W. . amp . 2006. Phylogenetic systematics of dart-poison frogs and their relatives (Amphibia, Athesphatanura, Dendrobatidae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 299. 1–262 . 10.1206/0003-0090(2006)299[1:psodfa]2.0.co;2. 2246/5803 . 82263880 .
2. Web site: Aromobates Myers, Paolillo-O., and Daly, 1991 . Frost, Darrel R. . 2014 . Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 . American Museum of Natural History . 15 August 2014.
3. Web site: aroma. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper.
4. Book: 0-13-100849-8. 92. F. Harvey Pough. 2004. Pearson/Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, NJ. Herpetology. etal.
5. Book: Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles . 4th . Laurie J.. Vitt. Janalee P. . Caldwell. Academic Press. 2014. 487.
6. Web site: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. . IUCN . 2014 . 15 August 2014.