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Saddleback Toad
The saddleback toads (''Brachycephalus'') are a genus of tiny toads and frogs in the family (biology), family Brachycephalidae in the order (biology), order Frog, Anura, ranging from south Bahia to Santa Catarina (state), Santa Catarina in southeastern Brazil. The genus includes two main groups, the often brightly coloured pumpkin toadlets, and the overall brown and more frog-like flea frogs (or flea toads), which once were placed in their own genus ''Psyllophryne''. Some pumpkin toadlets are toxic and their often bright colours are considered aposematic. At about or less in snout–to–Cloaca, vent length, the flea frogs are some of the Smallest organisms#Frogs, smallest frogs in the world. The saddleback toads live among leaf litter in the Atlantic rainforest, ranging from near sea level to an altitude of , with most species restricted to highland cloud forest. They are mostly Diurnality, diurnal, feed on tiny invertebrates and breeding is by direct development, with eggs laid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brachycephalus Ephippium
The pumpkin toadlet (''Brachycephalus ephippium''), or Spix's saddleback toad, is a small and brightly coloured species of frog in the family Brachycephalidae. This Diurnality, diurnal species is Endemism, endemic to southeastern Brazil where it is found among leaf litter on the floor of Atlantic rainforests at an altitude of . It is found in Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro (state), Rio de Janeiro, southeastern São Paulo (state), São Paulo and southeastern Minas Gerais. Although its type specimen supposedly was collected in Bahia about 200 years ago, there are no confirmed localities in this state and recent reviews consider it more likely that it was from Rio de Janeiro. ''B. ephippium'' is locally common, quite widespread compared to most other species of ''Brachycephalus'' and it is not considered Threatened species, threatened. ''B. ephippium'' feeds on tiny invertebrates and breeding is by direct development, with the female laying a few eggs on land that hatch into young ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tadpole
A tadpole is the larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial. Tadpoles have some fish-like features that may not be found in adult amphibians such as a lateral line, gills and swimming tails. As they undergo metamorphosis, they start to develop functional lungs for breathing air, and the diet of tadpoles changes drastically. A few amphibians, such as some members of the frog family Brevicipitidae, undergo direct development i.e., they do not undergo a free-living larval stage as tadpoles instead emerging from eggs as fully formed "froglet" miniatures of the adult morphology. Some other species hatch into tadpoles underneath the skin of the female adult or are kept in a pouch until after metamorphosis. Having no hard skeletons, it might be expected that tadpole fossils would not exist. However, traces of biofilms have been preserved and fossil tadpoles have ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tetrodotoxin
Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin. Its name derives from Tetraodontiformes, an order that includes pufferfish, porcupinefish, ocean sunfish, and triggerfish; several of these species carry the toxin. Although tetrodotoxin was discovered in these fish and found in several other animals (e.g., in blue-ringed octopuses, rough-skinned newts, and moon snails), it is actually produced by certain infecting or symbiotic bacteria like ''Pseudoalteromonas'', ''Pseudomonas'', and ''Vibrio'' as well as other species found in animals. Tetrodotoxin is a sodium channel blocker. It inhibits the firing of action potentials in neurons by binding to the voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve cell membranes and blocking the passage of sodium ions (responsible for the rising phase of an action potential) into the neuron. This prevents the nervous system from carrying messages and thus muscles from contracting in response to nervous stimulation. Its mechanism of action, selective blocking o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stumpffia
''Stumpffia'' is a genus of microhylid frogs that are endemic to Madagascar. They are mostly brown frogs that typically live among leaf litter. ''S. contumelia'' has a snout–vent length of about , making it one of the world's smallest frogs, and several others in the genus are only slightly larger. The largest species is no more than . The majority of the species have only been described since 2010. Each species has a small range and many are seriously threatened. Taxonomy ''Stumpffia'' was first described from the single species '' Stumpffia psologlossa'' Boettger, 1881, based on a single specimen collected on Nosy Be, a large island off the northwest coast of Madagascar, by Anotonio Stumpff. By 2017, 15 species were recognised. In late 2017, a major revision of the genus was published. This study used integrative taxonomy, i.e. the combination of multiple different datasets, to delimit and describe new species: it combined morphological, morphometric, chromatic (color ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paedophryne
''Paedophryne'' (from the Ancient Greek ''paedos'' (παίδος) "child" and ''phryne'' (φρύνος) "toad, frog") is a genus of microhylid frogs from Papua New Guinea, including D'Entrecasteaux Islands. All seven species known so far are amongst the smallest frog and vertebrate species. Species The following species are recognised in the genus ''Paedophryne'': * ''Paedophryne amauensis'' Rittmeyer ''et al.'', 2012 * ''Paedophryne dekot ''Paedophryne'' (from the Ancient Greek ''paedos'' (παίδος) "child" and ''phryne'' (φρύνος) "toad, frog") is a genus of microhylid frogs from Papua New Guinea, including D'Entrecasteaux Islands. All seven species known so far are ...'' Kraus, 2011 * '' Paedophryne kathismaphlox'' Kraus, 2010 * '' Paedophryne oyatabu'' Kraus, 2010 * '' Paedophryne swiftorum'' Rittmeyer ''et al.'', 2012 * '' Paedophryne titan'' Kraus, 2015 * '' Paedophryne verrucosa'' Kraus, 2011 Gallery File:Paedophryne kathismaphlox, dorsal view.jpg, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mini (frog)
''Mini'' is a genus of tiny microhylid frogs that are endemic to southeastern Madagascar where they live among leaf litter in lowland forests. The three species and the genus itself were only scientifically described in 2019; although not yet rated by the IUCN, they have very small ranges and it has been recommended that two qualify as critically endangered and ''M. ature'' as data deficient. At about in snout–to–vent length, ''M. mum'' and ''M. scule'' are two of the world's smallest frogs, and the larger ''M. ature'' is only . They were formerly confused with '' Stumpffia'', another genus of tiny frogs from Madagascar. All are well-camouflage Camouflage is the use of any combination of materials, coloration, or illumination for concealment, either by making animals or objects hard to see, or by disguising them as something else. Examples include the leopard's spotted coat, the b ...d brown frogs. Species There are currently 3 species: * '' Mini ature'' S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yellow-striped Pygmy Eleuth
The yellow-striped pygmy eleuth (''Eleutherodactylus limbatus''), also known as the yellow-striped dwarf frog, is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae from closed mesic and xeric forests in Cuba. The yellow-striped pygmy eleuth is relatively brightly marked in orange-yellow and among the smallest frogs in the world, up to in snout–to–vent length with males marginally smaller than females. It is part of a closely related Cuban group that contains five additional described species ('' E. cubanus'', '' E. etheridgei'', '' E. iberia'', '' E. jaumei'' and '' E. orientalis'') and at least one undescribed species; most of which are of tiny size, relatively brightly colored and possibly aposematic (at least ''E. iberia'' and ''E. orientalis'' have alkaloid toxins in their skin). Among these, the yellow-striped pygmy eleuth is unique in being quite widespread in Cuba, whereas the others all have very small ranges in the eastern part of the island. Mating calls and r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eleutherodactylus Iberia
The Monte Iberia eleuth (''Eleutherodactylus iberia''), also known as the Monte Iberia dwarf frog, is a species of eleutherodactylid frog. It is critically endangered and endemic to rainforest in a small part of easternmost Cuba. It is the smallest frog in the Northern Hemisphere and the third smallest frog in the world, at about in snout–to–vent length (only a few members of the Southern Hemisphere genera '' Brachycephalus'', ''Mini'', '' Paedophryne'' and ''Stumpffia'' are smaller). It was first discovered in 1993 on Mount Iberia in the Holguín Province, from which it gets its name. Much remains unknown about this small creature. It is part of a closely related Cuban group that contains five additional described species ('' E. cubanus'', '' E. etheridgei'', '' E. jaumei'', '' E. limbatus'' and '' E. orientalis'') and at least one undescribed species; most of which are of tiny size, relatively brightly colored and possibly aposematic (at least ''E. iberia'' and ''E. or ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Adelophryne Michelin
''Adelophryne'' is a genus of frogs in the family Eleutherodactylidae. They are native to northern South America east of the Andes, known roughly from the area corresponding to the Guiana Shield, as well as to the coastal area of Bahia, Brazil. Whether the genus is truly distinct from ''Phyzelaphryne'' remains uncertain. Common name shield frogs has been proposed for this genus, although the stem flea frog is used for some species. Etymology The generic name is derived from the Greek words ''adelos'', meaning "unseen, unknown, obscure", and ''phryne'' for "toad". It refers to the fact that these small frogs were seldom collected until relatively lately. Description ''Adelophryne'' are small leaf-litter frogs. Adults of the largest species, ''A. patamona'', measure no more than in snout–to– vent length and the remaining all are less than . At in males and in females, ''A. michelin'' is not only the smallest in the genus, but among the smallest frogs of the Americas, with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Adelophryne
''Adelophryne'' is a genus of frogs in the family Eleutherodactylidae. They are native to northern South America east of the Andes, known roughly from the area corresponding to the Guiana Shield, as well as to the coastal area of Bahia, Brazil. Whether the genus is truly distinct from '' Phyzelaphryne'' remains uncertain. Common name shield frogs has been proposed for this genus, although the stem flea frog is used for some species. Etymology The generic name is derived from the Greek words ''adelos'', meaning "unseen, unknown, obscure", and ''phryne'' for "toad". It refers to the fact that these small frogs were seldom collected until relatively lately. Description ''Adelophryne'' are small leaf-litter frogs. Adults of the largest species, ''A. patamona'', measure no more than in snout–to–vent length and the remaining all are less than . At in males and in females, ''A. michelin'' is not only the smallest in the genus, but among the smallest frogs of the Americas, with o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leptodactylid
The southern frogs form the Leptodactylidae, a name that comes from Greek meaning a bird or other animal having slender toes. They are a diverse family of frogs that most likely diverged from other hyloids during the Cretaceous. The family has undergone major taxonomic revisions in recent years, including the reclassification of the former subfamily Eleutherodactylinae into its own family the Eleutherodactylidae; the Leptodactylidae now number 206 species in 15 genera distributed throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The family includes terrestrial, burrowing, aquatic, and arboreal members, inhabiting a wide range of habitats. Several of the genera within the Leptodactylidae lay their eggs in foam nests. These can be in crevices, on the surface of water, or on forest floors. These foam nests are some of the most varied among frogs. When eggs hatch in nests on the forest floor, the tadpoles remain within the nest, without eating, until metamorphosis. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Morphology (biology)
Morphology is a branch of biology dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features. This includes aspects of the outward appearance (shape, structure, colour, pattern, size), i.e. external morphology (or eidonomy), as well as the form and structure of the internal parts like bones and organs, i.e. internal morphology (or anatomy). This is in contrast to physiology, which deals primarily with function. Morphology is a branch of life science dealing with the study of gross structure of an organism or taxon and its component parts. History The etymology of the word "morphology" is from the Ancient Greek (), meaning "form", and (), meaning "word, study, research". While the concept of form in biology, opposed to function, dates back to Aristotle (see Aristotle's biology), the field of morphology was developed by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1790) and independently by the German anatomist and physiologist Karl Friedrich Burdach ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
