Otophryne steyermarki explained

Otophryne steyermarki is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is found in western Guyana (Mount Ayanganna,[1] Mount Wokomung) and in the Bolívar state in eastern Venezuela (Chimantá Massif, Cerro Jaua, Mount Roraima).[2]

Habitat and behaviour

This relatively common frog is a diurnal species living at the borders of slow-flowing streams in high montane tepui habitats, from 1000–1500 metres elevation. Males call near streams, hiding in leaf-litter, between trunks, or in crevices between rocks. The tadpoles live in the bottom substrate of small ponds adjacent to streams.

Description

The colour pattern is different between males and females and also between individuals. dorsum and limbs are black or dark grey with irregular, variable yellow spots. There is a yellow line from tip of snout across eyelid to groin, continuing onto anterior thigh and sometimes onto shank. Lateral surfaces are usually black or dark grey, occasionally dark orange, with yellow or orange spots, usually smaller than dorsal spots. Toe webbing is more extensive in males than in females. Male Otophryne steyermarki grow to a snout–vent length of 40mm42mm and females to 42mm48mm.

Tadpoles grow to at least 43mm in total length. They are dark grey with white flecks and lack oral disc.[3] Tadpoles have a spiracle that protrudes from the substrate, thus enabling respiration.

Notes and References

  1. MacCulloch, R.D.. A. Lathrop. amp. Herpetofauna of Mount Ayanganna, Guyana. Results of the Royal Ontario Museum Ayanganna Expedition 2000. Royal Ontario Museum Science Contributions. Royal Ontario Museum. 2009. 4. 1–36.
  2. Web site: Otophryne steyermarki Rivero, 1968 . Frost, Darrel R. . 2014 . Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 . American Museum of Natural History . 9 September 2014.
  3. 10.1590/S0031-10492008002200001. Otophryne (Anura: Microhylidae) from the highlands of Guyana: Redescriptions, vocalisations, tadpoles and new distributions. Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia. 48. 22. 2008. 247–261. MacCulloch . R. D. . Lathrop . A. . Minter . L. R. . Khan . S. Z. . free .