Limnonectes palavanensis (common names: smooth guardian frog, Palawan wart frog) is a species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. It is found in the Palawan Island (the Philippines, its type locality) and in Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia).[3][4] The species shows paternal care,[2][4] a relatively rare trait in frogs.[5]
| Limnonectes palavanensis | |
|---|---|
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| Limnonectes palavanensis from the Crocker Range, Borneo[1] | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Dicroglossidae |
| Genus: | Limnonectes |
| Species: | L. palavanensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Limnonectes palavanensis (Boulenger, 1894)
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| Synonyms | |
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Rana palavanensis Boulenger, 1894 | |
Description edit
Male Limnonectes palavanensis grow to about 30 mm (1.2 in) and females to about 40 mm (1.6 in) in snout–vent length. There is a V-shaped ridge between the shoulders, and a sharp interorbital band that separates the anterior part of the head from differently colorer back. Juveniles have a medial vertebral stripe that in some populations persists in adults too.[4]
The tadpole is moderately flat (dorsoventrally compressed). The tail is twice the length of the body. The tail fin is low and ends in a pointed tip.[4]
Reproduction edit
The male of this species guard the tadpoles that hatch from the eggs laid on the ground. The male then carries the tadpoles on its back to water.[2][4]
Habitat and conservation edit
Its natural habitats are lower montane and lowland forests. The tadpoles develop in small rain pools[2] and quiet sections of small, slow moving streams.[4]
The habitat of this species is mostly well protected, although it can potentially be impacted by habitat loss.[2] It occurs in the Crocker Range National Park.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b Das, I. (2006). "Crocker Range National Park, Sabah, as a refuge for Borneo's montane herpetofauna" (PDF). Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. 4 (1): 3–11.
- ^ a b c d e IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2018). "Limnonectes palavanensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T58362A114915470. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T58362A114915470.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Limnonectes palavanensis (Boulenger, 1894)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Haas, A.; Das, I.; Hertwig, S.T. (2016). "Limnonectes palavanensis (Smooth Guardian Frog)". Frogs of Borneo. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
- ^ Vitt, Laurie J.; Caldwell, Janalee P. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (4th ed.). Academic Press. p. 171.