Leptobrachella
| Leptobrachella | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Megophryidae |
| Genus: | Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 |
| Species | |
|
See text. | |
Leptobrachella is a genus of the Megophryidae family in the order Anura, and are found on Borneo and Natuna Islands. They are sometimes referred to as Borneo frogs, slender-armed frogs,[1] or dwarf litter frogs.[2]
Tadpoles
The tadpoles of Leptobrachella are unusual in their vermiform or eel-like appearance. The transition from the narrow, cylindrical trunk into the strong tail is nearly seamless, and the tail fin is very low. This body shape is interpreted as an adaptation to a fossorial life style: Leptobrachella tadpoles live in the gravel beds of small streams. In Leptobrachella mjobergi where more detailed observations have been made, tadpoles have unusually mobile head and trunk. While smaller tadpoles seem to use existing interstitial spaces, larger ones can actively push their way through gravel.[3]
Species
Currently seven species are included in Leptobrachella:[1][4]
- Leptobrachella baluensis Smith, 1931
- Leptobrachella brevicrus Dring, 1984
- Leptobrachella mjobergi Smith, 1925
- Leptobrachella natunae (Günther, 1895)
- Leptobrachella palmata Inger & Stuebing, 1992
- Leptobrachella parva Dring, 1984
- Leptobrachella serasanae Dring, 1984
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Frost, Darrel R. (2013). "Leptobrachella Smith, 1925". Amphibian Species of the World 5.6, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ↑ Wild Borneo: The Wildlife and Scenery of Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan. New Holland Publishers. 2006. p. 69. ISBN 1845373782.
- ↑ Haas, A.; Hertwig, S.; Das, I. (2006). "Extreme tadpoles: The morphology of the fossorial megophryid larva, Leptobrachella mjobergi". Zoology 109 (1): 26–42. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2005.09.008. PMID 16376062.
- ↑ "Leptobrachella". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.