Myersiohyla chamaeleo
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| Myersiohyla chamaeleo | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hylidae |
| Genus: | Myersiohyla |
| Species: | M. chamaeleo |
| Binomial name | |
| Myersiohyla chamaeleo (Faivovich, McDiarmid, and Myers, 2013) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Myersiohyla chamaeleo is a species of frog from the family Hylidae. It lives in Amazonas, Venezuela. Scientists have seen it on the Tepui Cerro de la Neblina between 1450 and 2100 meters above sea level.[1][2]
Adult males measure 44.6–49.6 mm in length while females are 46.0–56.9 mm.[3] The species has a unique ability to change color, which is how it got its name "chamaeleo" (similar to chameleon).[3] The frog can change from reddish brown at night to light green during the day.[3]
The frog has stellate (star-shaped) melanophores (color cells) over its ground color, giving it a distinctive appearance.[3] The flanks are yellowish in living specimens, and the iris is black with an intricate metallic copper pattern.[3]
Habitat and behavior
M. chamaeleo lives in highland habitats of Cerro de la Neblina including open savannas and streams.[3] During the day, frogs hide in the leaf axils of plants like Bonnetia maguireorum and large terrestrial bromeliads (Brocchinia tatei).[3] At night, they are found on vegetation and rocks along streams or in surrounding forest.[3]
