Rheobates palmatus is a species of frog in the family Aromobatidae.[2][3] It is the type species of genus Rheobates erected in 2006.[4] Its common name is palm rocket frog. It is endemic to Colombia.[2] It is considered to be part of a species complex.[1][3]

Rheobates palmatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Aromobatidae
Genus: Rheobates
Species:
R. palmatus
Binomial name
Rheobates palmatus
(Werner, 1899)
Synonyms[2]

Phyllobates (Hypodictyon) palmatus Werner, 1899
Colostethus palmatus (Werner, 1899)

Description edit

Rheobates palmatus has cryptic, brown or gray dorsal colouration and posteriorly granular skin texture. Toe webbing is extensive.[4] It is also distinguishable by its large size. Its tadpoles are also large and are a uniform colour without markings.[5]

Distribution and habitat edit

Rheobates palmatus is endemic to the Colombian Andes and is found on both sides of the Cordillera Oriental and on the eastern side of the Cordillera Central range at heights of 350 to 2,200 metres (1,150 to 7,220 ft) above sea level.[6] As it has not been found higher than 2,500 metres (8,200 ft), it is effectively divided into three distinct populations as those on the two slopes of the Cordillera Oriental are separated by a continuous, high altitude ridge. It has been found that the vocalisations of the males when seeking a mate varies between the different populations.[6] It is a terrestrial species and is found in rainforests and cloud forests. In the Rio Magdalena Valley it is also found in pasture land, crops and even polluted streams.[1]

Status edit

Rheobates palmatus does not like being disturbed by humans. Near the VillavicencioBogotá road it became locally extinct but returned to its previous breeding sites when a new road was built, removing the traffic away from the old highway.[5] The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists this species as being of "Least Concern" on the grounds that it has a reasonably wide range and a stable population, and seems to be an adaptable species.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2019). "Rheobates palmatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T55124A85893845. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T55124A85893845.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Frost, Darrel R. (2019). "Rheobates palmatus (Werner, 1899)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b Acosta Galvis, A. R. (2019). "Rheobates palmatus (Werner, 1899)". Lista de los Anfibios de Colombia: Referencia en linea V.09.2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  4. ^ a b Grant, T.; Frost, D. R.; Caldwell, J. P.; Gagliardo, R.; Haddad, C. F. B.; Kok, P. J. R.; Means, D. B.; Noonan, B. P.; Schargel, W. E. & Wheeler, W. C. (2006). "Phylogenetic systematics of dart-poison frogs and their relatives (Amphibia: Athesphatanura: Dendrobatidae)". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 299: 1–262. doi:10.1206/0003-0090(2006)299[1:PSODFA]2.0.CO;2. hdl:2246/5803.
  5. ^ a b Lynch, John D. (2006). "The amphibian fauna in the Villavicencio region of eastern Colombia". Caldasia. 28 (1): 135–155. ISSN 0366-5232.
  6. ^ a b Bernal, Ximena E.; Guarnizo, Carlos & Lüddecke, Horst (2005). "Geographic variation in advertisement call and genetic structure of Colostethus palmatus (Anura, Dendrobatidae) from the Colombian Andes". Herpetologica. 61 (4): 395–408. doi:10.1655/04-87.1. JSTOR 3893499.