Glyphoglossus smithi
Glyphoglossus smithi, also known as Smith's squat frog[1][2] or Smith's burrowing frog,[3] is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo.[1][2] However, it is likely to occur more widely than currently known and be present in Brunei and Indonesia.[1] The specific name smithi honours Dr Harrison Willard Smith, an American scientist who collected the holotype[4] from the Limbang River district.[2]
| Glyphoglossus smithi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Microhylidae |
| Genus: | Glyphoglossus |
| Species: | G. smithi |
| Binomial name | |
| Glyphoglossus smithi | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Description
Adult females measure up to 39 mm (1.5 in) in snout–vent length. The overall appearance is stocky. The head is small, slightly wider than it is long. The snout is truncate. The tympanum is present but hidden under skin. The finger tips are not expanded but the toe tips are expanded into small discs. The toes are about one-fourth webbed. Skin is smooth. Colouration is dark brown above with dark markings edged with pink or red. A conspicuous red or pink arc may be present above the anus.[3][5]
Habitat and conservation
Glyphoglossus smithi occurs in lowland rainforests.[1] It is a secretive, burrowing species that is rarely observed.[1][3] The eggs are probably laid in pools of standing water on the forest floor. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by clear-cutting. The type locality in Sarawak has experienced severe habitat loss and the species might no longer persist there. The Sabah locality is, however, within the Danum Valley Conservation Area, which is well protected.[1]
References
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2018). "Glyphoglossus smithi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T57726A95676801. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T57726A95676801.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- Frost, Darrel R. (2019). "Glyphoglossus smithi (Barbour and Noble, 1916)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- Haas, A.; Das, I. & Hertwig, S.T. (2019). "Glyphoglossus smithi (Smith's Burrowing Frog)". Frogs of Borneo. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael & Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 200. ISBN 978-1-907807-42-8.
- Inger, R. F. (1966). "The systematics and zoogeography of the amphibia of Borneo". Fieldiana Zoology. 52: 1–402. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.3147. [Calluella smithi: pp. 120–121]