Phyllomedusa sauvagii

Waxy monkey tree frog
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Lissamphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Subfamily: Phyllomedusinae
Genus: Phyllomedusa
Species: P. sauvagii
Binomial name
Phyllomedusa sauvagii

Phyllomedusa sauvagii, commonly known as the waxy monkey tree frog, waxy monkey frog or painted-bellied tree frog is a hylid frog belonging to the subfamily of South and Central American leaf frogs, Phyllomedusinae, that inhabits the Chaco of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil.[1] The subfamily consists of around 50 species in three well-known genera, Phyllomedusa, Agalychnis, and Pachymedusa.[2] The vast majority of known species, including Phyllomedusa sauvagei, belong to the genus Phyllomedusa.

Phyllomedusa sauvagii has adapted to meet the demands of life in the trees. It does not need to return to the ground during the mating season; rather, it lays its eggs down the middle of a leaf before folding the leaf, sandwiching the eggs inside. Its nest is attached to a branch suspended over a stream, so the hatching tadpoles drop into the water.[3] In common with other phyllomedusines, it has physiological and behavioural adaptations to limit water loss, including reducing water loss through the skin by lipid secretions, excretion of uric acid (uricotelism), and diurnal torpor.[4] Lipid secretions are produced in a special type of cutaneous gland, and are spread over the surface of the skin by the legs in a complex sequence of wiping movements.

Males and females range from about 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) in length, with the females usually about 25% larger than males. They move by walking rather than hopping, which is the reason for the "monkey" in their name. They are very calm, careful creatures. During the day, they bask in the sun with their legs pulled underneath them, and hunt for various insects at night.

Peptides

The frogs generate many different pharmacologically active peptides as part of the defensive secretions covering their skin. Several of these peptides have found scientific uses as research ligands, including the opioid peptide dermorphin and the Corticotropin-releasing hormone mimic sauvagine.

Waxy Monkey Tree Frogs Phyllomedusa sauvagii
Waxy Monkey Tree Frog

References

  1. 1 2 http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/full/55863/0
  2. ↑ Walls, J.G. (1996) Red-eyes and other leaf-frogs. T.F.H. Publications.
  3. ↑ Frazer, J.F.D. (1973) Amphibians. Wykeham Publications, London, pp.75.
  4. ↑ Blaylock, L. A., Ruibal, R. and Platt-Aloia, K. (1976) Skin structure and wiping behavior of Phyllomedusinae frogs. Copeia, 1976: 283–295.


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