Nanorana blanfordii (common names: Blanford's frog, Blanford's paa frog, Blanford's spiny frog, Blanford's hill frog) is a species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. It is found in northeastern India, southern Tibet (China), and eastern Nepal, and likely in the adjacent western Bhutan.[1][2] The specific name blanfordii honours William Thomas Blandford, a British geologist and zoologist.[3]

Nanorana blanfordii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Dicroglossidae
Genus: Nanorana
Species:
N. blanfordii
Binomial name
Nanorana blanfordii
(Boulenger, 1882)
Synonyms[2]
  • Rana blandfordii Boulenger, 1882
  • Paa blanfordii (Boulenger, 1882)
  • Chaparana blanfordii (Boulenger, 1882)
  • Rana yadongensis Wu, 1977
  • Paa yadongensis (Wu, 1977)

Description edit

Nanorana blanfordii are medium-sized frogs, though relatively small among their closest relatives:[4] adult males measure 39–47 mm (1.5–1.9 in) and adult females 39–56 mm (1.5–2.2 in) in snout–vent length. The snout is rounded. The tympanum is not very distinct. The finger and toe tips bears discs; the toes are webbed. The dorsum is grey-brown and has some black markings with white margins. There are two black triangular marks between the eyes. The underparts are white.[5]

The tadpoles are up to 52 mm (2.0 in) in length.[4]

Habitat and conservation edit

Nanorana blanfordii occurs in small streams and the surrounding grassland and temperate forest at elevations of 2,600–3,400 m (8,500–11,200 ft) above sea level. Breeding takes place in streams, and the eggs are laid in water under stones.[1]

Nanorana blanfordii is rare in China, whereas its population size is unknown elsewhere. Threats to it are unknown. It occurs in the Yadong National Nature Reserve in Tibet.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Fei Liang, Michael Wai Neng Lau, Sushil Dutta, Annemarie Ohler, Tej Kumar Shrestha (2004). "Nanorana blanfordii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T58419A11777848. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T58419A11777848.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Nanorana blanfordii (Boulenger, 1882)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  3. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael & Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-907807-42-8.
  4. ^ a b Fei, L. (1999). Atlas of Amphibians of China (in Chinese). Zhengzhou: Henan Press of Science and Technology. pp. 210–212. ISBN 7-5349-1835-9.
  5. ^ "布兰福棘蛙(bù lán fú jí wā)Nanorana blanfordii (Boulenger, 1882)". AmphibiaChina (in Chinese). Kunming Institute of Zoology. Retrieved 14 October 2018.