''Callulops mediodiscus'' is a species of
frog
A frog is any member of a diverse and largely semiaquatic group of short-bodied, tailless amphibian vertebrates composing the order (biology), order Anura (coming from the Ancient Greek , literally 'without tail'). Frog species with rough ski ...
in the family
Microhylidae
The Microhylidae, commonly known as narrow-mouthed frogs, are a geographically widespread family (biology), family of frogs. The 683 species are in 57 genera and 11 subfamilies.
Evolution
A molecular phylogenetic study by van der Meijden, et al. ...
. It is only known from the
type locality in the upper
Kikori Basin in the
Southern Highlands Province
Southern Highlands is a province in Papua New Guinea. Its provincial capital is the town of Mendi. According to Papua New Guinea's national 2021 census, the total population of Southern Highlands province is 927,306.
History
Separation of H ...
,
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea, officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is an island country in Oceania that comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and offshore islands in Melanesia, a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean n ...
.
The
specific name Specific name may refer to:
* in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database
In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules:
* Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...
refers to its most distinctive feature, the moderately enlarged discs on fingers and toes, although their function remains unknown as the specimens were collected on or near the ground.
[
]
Description
''Callulops mediodiscus'' is only known from the all-male type series
In biology, a type is a particular specimen (or in some cases a group of specimens) of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally associated. In other words, a type is an example that serves to anchor or centralizes t ...
. Specimens measure in snout–vent length. Body is moderately slender and somewhat pear-shaped, with wide head that is not distinct from the body. Limbs are long and moderately robust, and fingers and toes bear moderately enlarged discs. Overall colouration is light yellowish-brown, with noticeably darker head. Lateral surfaces are more strongly yellow-tinged than dorsum. Exposed surfaces of forelimbs are yellowish-brown proximally and becoming medium brown distally. Exposed surfaces of hindlimbs are relatively uniform yellowish brown, but digits are lighter, tending towards off-white. Iris is silvery-grey.[
The advertisement call of male ''Callulops mediodiscus'' is a series of four loud, barking notes, with a dominant frequency of 1529–1661 Hz.][
]
Habitat
The type locality is extremely wet, mossy lower-montane rainforest at about asl on karst
Karst () is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks such as limestone and Dolomite (rock), dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and drainage systems with sinkholes and caves underground. Ther ...
limestone. Individuals were found on the ground on leaf litter, or calling on mossy rocks and logs after rain at night. No other ''Callulops'' species were found at the locality.[
]
References
External links
AmphibiaWeb
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2934316
mediodiscus
Amphibians of Papua New Guinea
Endemic amphibian species of Papua New Guinea
Amphibians described in 2012