Leptopelis vermiculatus, also known as the peacock tree frog,[2]Amani forest treefrog,[1][3] or vermiculated tree frog,[3] is a species of frog found in forest areas in Tanzania.[1][3] Sometimes the common name big-eyed tree frog is used,[4] but this may also refer to another species, Leptopelis macrotis.[5]
This species is a medium to large frog ranging from 40–85 mm in length. It has two very different colour phases. In one phase, they are a bright green with scattered black specks all over the dorsal surface and the sides are marble with black and white. With some specimens, the end of the tibia to the toes, forearms and upper lip have white blotching outlined with dark green or black. In the other phase, they are brown with an irregular-shaped, darker brown triangular patch on the dorsum. Randomly placed darker or lighter brown spots and patches may appear over the dorsal surface, legs and forearms and a dark brown streak often runs from behind the tympanum ending halfway between the armpit and groin. In both phases, the ventral surface is cream-white. Some specimens show a transition between both phases and change from the green phase to the brown phase as they mature. The eyes are very big compared with body size and are golden with brown lines and flecks. Its large toe pads are used for climbing. The tympanum is distinct. They are sometimes kept as pets.
Ecology and behaviouredit
This species inhabits the closed-canopy wet tropical rainforests of Tanzania between the altitudes of 900 and 1800 m. Males call while in the water, and are very territorial. They have two different calls: one is a “ga…ga…ga”, used for attracting females, and the other is a “rrrrrrrr-ga” used for deterring other males of the same species. They are insectivorous.
Similar speciesedit
This species is very similar to the yellow-spotted tree frog (Leptopelis flavomaculatus), a species that also varies greatly in dorsal patterning and colouration. The yellow-spotted tree frog, in its green phase, lacks the fine black specks present over the dorsum in the big-eyed tree frog's green phase. The brown phase of the yellow-spotted tree frog has a white blotch on the elbow, which brown-phase big-eyed tree frogs lack.
Referencesedit
^ abcIUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2014). "Leptopelis vermiculatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T56284A3037319. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T56284A3037319.en.
^. RepticZone. Reptile and Amphibian Information and Care. 2008. Archived from the original on 8 November 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
^ abcFrost, Darrel R. (2016). "Leptopelis vermiculatus (Boulenger, 1909)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
^. Wildscreen ARKive. Archived from the original on 2015-11-20. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
^Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Leptopelis macrotis Schiøtz, 1967". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
AmphibiaWeb - Leptopelis vermiculatus
December 02, 2023
leptopelis, vermiculatus, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, november, 2015, learn, when, remove, this, template,. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations November 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Leptopelis vermiculatus also known as the peacock tree frog 2 Amani forest treefrog 1 3 or vermiculated tree frog 3 is a species of frog found in forest areas in Tanzania 1 3 Sometimes the common name big eyed tree frog is used 4 but this may also refer to another species Leptopelis macrotis 5 Leptopelis vermiculatusConservation statusEndangered IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AmphibiaOrder AnuraFamily ArthroleptidaeGenus LeptopelisSpecies L vermiculatusBinomial nameLeptopelis vermiculatus Boulenger 1909 SynonymsHylambates vermiculatus Boulenger 1909Leptopelis signifer Ahl 1929 Contents 1 Description 2 Ecology and behaviour 3 Similar species 4 ReferencesDescription edit nbsp A brown phase Leptopelis vermiculatusThis species is a medium to large frog ranging from 40 85 mm in length It has two very different colour phases In one phase they are a bright green with scattered black specks all over the dorsal surface and the sides are marble with black and white With some specimens the end of the tibia to the toes forearms and upper lip have white blotching outlined with dark green or black In the other phase they are brown with an irregular shaped darker brown triangular patch on the dorsum Randomly placed darker or lighter brown spots and patches may appear over the dorsal surface legs and forearms and a dark brown streak often runs from behind the tympanum ending halfway between the armpit and groin In both phases the ventral surface is cream white Some specimens show a transition between both phases and change from the green phase to the brown phase as they mature The eyes are very big compared with body size and are golden with brown lines and flecks Its large toe pads are used for climbing The tympanum is distinct They are sometimes kept as pets Ecology and behaviour editThis species inhabits the closed canopy wet tropical rainforests of Tanzania between the altitudes of 900 and 1800 m Males call while in the water and are very territorial They have two different calls one is a ga ga ga used for attracting females and the other is a rrrrrrrr ga used for deterring other males of the same species They are insectivorous Similar species editThis species is very similar to the yellow spotted tree frog Leptopelis flavomaculatus a species that also varies greatly in dorsal patterning and colouration The yellow spotted tree frog in its green phase lacks the fine black specks present over the dorsum in the big eyed tree frog s green phase The brown phase of the yellow spotted tree frog has a white blotch on the elbow which brown phase big eyed tree frogs lack References edit a b c IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2014 Leptopelis vermiculatus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014 e T56284A3037319 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2014 1 RLTS T56284A3037319 en Peacock Tree Frog Leptopelis vermiculatus Care Sheets RepticZone Reptile and Amphibian Information and Care 2008 Archived from the original on 8 November 2015 Retrieved 19 November 2015 a b c Frost Darrel R 2016 Leptopelis vermiculatus Boulenger 1909 Amphibian Species of the World an Online Reference Version 6 0 American Museum of Natural History Retrieved 11 October 2016 Big eyed tree frog Leptopelis vermiculatus Wildscreen ARKive Archived from the original on 2015 11 20 Retrieved 19 November 2015 Frost Darrel R 2016 Leptopelis macrotis Schiotz 1967 Amphibian Species of the World an Online Reference Version 6 0 American Museum of Natural History Retrieved 11 October 2016 AmphibiaWeb Leptopelis vermiculatus Global Amphibiam Assessment Leptopelis vermiculatus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leptopelis vermiculatus amp oldid 1170119866, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
