Pelophryne penrissenensis

Pelophryne penrissenensis, also known as Penrissen dwarf toad,[3] is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae.[1][3][4][5] It is endemic to Borneo and only known from Mount Penrissen [ms] in Sarawak (East Malaysia),[1][4] its type locality that also gave this species its specific name.[2] Its actual range might be wider and extend into nearby Kalimantan (Indonesia).[1] It is the sister taxon of Pelophryne signata.[2]

Pelophryne penrissenensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Pelophryne
Species:
P. penrissenensis
Binomial name
Pelophryne penrissenensis
Matsui [fr], Nishikawa, Eto, and Hossman, 2017[2]

Description

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Two adult males in the type series measure 25–28 mm (1.0–1.1 in) and a single adult female 31 mm (1.2 in) in snout–vent length. The overall appearance is moderately slender. The snout is truncate. The tympanum is visible, oval in shape. The forelimbs are thin and long; the hindlimbs are slender and moderately long. Both the fingers and toes have fleshy webbing characteristic to all Pelophryne. The finger and toe tips bear small discs. Skin is dorsally and laterally scattered with tubercles of various sizes. Colouration is clay brown, with darker spots. There is a dark brown interorbital triangle and a dark brown triangle from the mid-trunk to above the cloaca; together, these form a light hourglass pattern. In some individuals, the dark dorsal pattern is reduced into scattered dots.[2]

Habitat and conservation

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Pelophryne penrissenensis occurs in primary, hilly lower montane tropical rainforest at elevations of 1,000–1,200 m (3,300–3,900 ft) above sea level.[1] Specimens have been spotted on leaves, on and around rocks, always <2 metres (7 ft) above ground.[1][2] It probably breeds by larval development, as other Pelophryne.[1] It is sympatric with Pelophryne signata, but less abundant.[2]

Although this species is only known from one locality, it is relatively common there, not facing known threats, and believed to have a stable population. Some habitat conversion has occurred at the lower end of its altitudinal range, but higher up its habitat is considered safe. Hence, it has been assessed as a species of "least concern" by IUCN.[1] Mount Penrissen is an Important Bird Area but enjoys no formal protection.[1][6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2018). "Pelophryne penrissenensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T125163680A125163688. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T125163680A125163688.en. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Matsui, Masafumi; Nishikawa, Kanto; Eto, Koshiro & Hossman, Mohamad Yazid Bin (2017). "A new species of Pelophryne from western Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo (Anura, Bufonidae)". Zoological Science. 34 (4): 345–350. doi:10.2108/zs170008.
  3. ^ a b Haas, A.; Das, I. & Hertwig, S.T. (2022). "Pelophryne penrissenensis Penrissen Dwarf Toad". Frogs of Borneo – The frogs of East Malaysia and their larval forms. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  4. ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2022). "Pelophryne penrissenensis Matsui, Nishikawa, Eto, and Hossman, 2017". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Pelophryne penrissenensis". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  6. ^ BirdLife International (2022). "Important Bird Areas factsheet: Gunung Penrissen". Retrieved 16 November 2022.