Brachycephalus auroguttatus

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Brachycephalus auroguttatus
Brachycephalus auroguttatus.png
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Brachycephalidae
Genus: Brachycephalus
Species:
B. auroguttatus
Binomial name
Brachycephalus auroguttatus
Ribeiro et al., 2015

Brachycephalus auroguttatus is a species of frog in the family Brachycephalidae. It is very tiny and was one of seven new species described by LF Ribeiro and a team of scientists from the Mater Natura - Instituto de Estudos Ambientais in Brazil. Like all species in its genus, it is found in a very small strip of Atlantic Forest in the southeastern coast of the country, and has a vibrant colour pattern.[1] The speciation seen in this genus is thought to be a byproduct of the rift between the valley versus mountain terrain and its particular microclimates, to which they are adapted. It might be in population decline due to habitat loss.[2] Its name comes from the Latin aurum for "gold" and gutta "drop" or "speck", in reference to golden spots found throughout the skin of this species.

Description[]

It differs from its cogenerate species by its robust, bufoniform body; adult average length between 9.0 to 13.6 millimetres (0.35 to 0.54 in); its rough dorsum; and its dorsal coloration that shifts from a bright yellow colour on its head with increasingly brownish towards its posterior section, while its legs and arms carry yellow spots along the back; also, the skin on its dorsum shows no dermal co-ossification. Being a representative of the pernix group, its dorsum is similar to that of B. olivaceus and B. mariaeterezae, which is different to B. izecksohni or , for example. The species also possesses a yellow stripe on its back, which is less orange than B. pombali's. This species also shows dark spots along the sides of its body and lacks the dermal co-ossification specific within species of the theephippium group.[1]

Distribution[]

Brachycephalus auroguttatus is known only from its type locality, which is a cloud forest in the Pedra da Tartaruga, a rocky formation in the State of Santa Catarina, at a height of between 1,070 to 1,100 metres (3,510 to 3,610 ft) above sea level.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Ribeiro, Luiz F.; Bornschein, Marcos R.; Belmonte-Lopes, Ricardo; Firkowski, Carina R.; Morato, Sergio A.A.; Pie, Marcio R. (2015). "Seven new microendemic species ofBrachycephalus(Anura: Brachycephalidae) from southern Brazil". PeerJ. 3: e1011. doi:10.7717/peerj.1011. ISSN 2167-8359. PMC 4458131. PMID 26056613.
  2. ^ Webb, Jonathan (2015-06-04). "Seven tiny frog species found on seven mountains". BBC News. Retrieved 4 June 2015.

Further reading[]

External links[]

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