Eastern ghost frog

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Eastern ghost frog
Heleophryne orientalis.jpg

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Heleophrynidae
Genus: Heleophryne
Species:
H. orientalis
Binomial name
Heleophryne orientalis

The eastern ghost frog (Heleophryne orientalis) is a species of frog in the family Heleophrynidae.

It is endemic to Western Cape Province, South Africa.[2] Its natural habitats are forest patches surrounded by mountain fynbos heathland. Adult frogs live near slow- to swift flowing perennial mountain streams in isolated canyons. They are typical sit-and-wait predators which hunt at night near to the splash zone of the mountain streams.[3] Breeding takes place in fast-flowing, perennial streams. Clutches of 120–190 eggs are laid extra aquatic under moss-covered rocks.[4] Their tadpoles take two years to complete their development[1] and possess unique larval features such as the appearance of both the admandibular and the adrostral cartilage.[5]

The eastern ghost frog is locally a common species that is not significantly threatened, but is locally impacted by introduced species.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Heleophryne orientalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T55274A3026829. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T55274A3026829.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Heleophryne orientalis FitzSimons, 1946". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  3. ^ Vitt, L. J. (2008). "Herpetology". Herpetology 3rd Edition. San Diego: Academic Press/ Elsevier.
  4. ^ Halliday, T. (2016). "The Book of frogs: A life sized guide to six hundred species from around the world". Brighton IVY Press.
  5. ^ Lukas, Paul (2020). "Larval cranial anatomy of the Eastern Ghost Frog (Heleophryne orientalis)". Acta Zoologica. doi:10.1111/azo.12352.
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