''Hoplophryne'' is a genus of microhylid

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" ''Triadobatrachus'' is ...

s. The genus is endemic to mountain forests of

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...

. They are also known as three-fingered frogs or African banana frogs (not to be confused with ''

Afrixalus ''Afrixalus'', commonly known as the banana frogs, spiny reed frogs, cat's eye reed frogs, or leaf-folding frogs, is a genus of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. They occur in the Subsaharan Africa. They lay their eggs in vegetation above water, ...

'', another African genus known as "banana frogs").

Species

There are two species in this genus, both

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and in ...

: * '' Hoplophryne rogersi'' Barbour and Loveridge, 1928 * '' Hoplophryne uluguruensis'' Barbour and Loveridge, 1928

Description

''Hoplophryne'' are small frogs, reaching in snout–vent length (female ''H. rogersi''). Their distinctive characters is that male frogs have only three fingers: the thumb is reduced to a small bump or group of spines. The biology of the amphibia (1931) (19759582984)

The biology of the amphibia (1931) (19759582984)

Ecology and reproduction

''Hoplophryne'' can be found in leaf litter, under logs, and in bananas and bamboos. Reproduction takes place in

phytotelma Phytotelma (plural phytotelmata) is a small water-filled cavity in a terrestrial plant. The water accumulated within these plants may serve as the habitat for associated fauna and flora. A rich literature in German summarised by Thienemann (19 ...

ta. The modified thumbs of males are probably involved in mating, helping the male to embrace the female.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2701340 Microhylidae Amphibian genera Amphibians of Sub-Saharan Africa Endemic fauna of Tanzania Taxa named by Thomas Barbour Taxa named by Arthur Loveridge