Hylodes japi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hylodes japi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mating couple during courtship (female on right) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hylodidae |
| Genus: | Hylodes |
| Species: | H. japi |
| Binomial name | |
| Hylodes japi Sá, Canedo, Lyra & Haddad, 2015 | |
Hylodes japi is a species of frogs in the family Hylodidae.[1][2]
The frog's specific name, japi, comes from a Tupi word meaning "springs", referencing the breeding environment of this species. The closest relatives of Hylodes japi are Hylodes amnicola, Hylodes ornatus, Hylodes perere, and Hylodes sazimai.[2]
Distribution
Hylodes japi is endemic to the Serra do Japi mountains, located in the São Paulo state, Brazil.[2]
Description
Hylodes japi is a small, slender frog. When adult, males measure 22.9 to 25.5 millimeters, females - 26.4 to 28.0 millimeters, both with the head longer than wide, straight canthus, sunken lore, medium-sized, almost round tympanum, and side-directed nostril openings. Males additionally possess two lateral vocal sacs, which can distend to a great extent. The fore limbs are slender, and the hind limbs are robust. Several tubercles are present on them. The digits bear lateral fringes, more extensive on the toes than on the fingers, and more pronounced in males than females, as well as weakly developed scutes. The fingertips are small and almost in the shape of an ellipse; the toes end in nearly round discs. The thumbs do not possess any significant features. The frog's skin is mostly smooth, with some regions slightly textured. Although Hylodes japi is mostly silver in color, its body features dark spots and blotches, light, lateral stripes, and brown to chestnut bars. In preservative, the colors become less vivid. The tadpoles are brown with tones of yellow.[2]
Deposited eggs measure 2.48 to 3.47 millimeters in diameter; they are unpigmented and whitish cream in color. The gelatinous capsule ranges from 7.81 to 8.16 millimeters in diameter.[2]
Overall, this species can be distinguished from other members of its genus by a continuous oblique lateral fold as well as a lack of tubercles near it, a light-colored stripe, smoother dorsal surfaces, advertisement calls, and the ventral coloration.[2]