''Rana neba'' is a species of
true frog that was discovered in 2014 using genetic analysis and
bioacoustics. It is thought to have originated quite recently. It was previously considered a part of a subspecies of
Tago's brown frog, but the population was distinct enough to be considered its own species. It is found approx. 1200 meters above sea level on
Mt. Chausu,
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
, and in the surrounding area within a radius of 40 kilometers or less.
Description
''Rana neba'' is brown with black bands on the legs and black, somewhat triangular markings on its back and eyelids. The
tympana (temples) are black. The throat and abdomen are greyish and speckled. The underside of its legs is not speckled but a consistent orangish color. Its call is higher pitched than its previously designated subspecies ''Rana tagoi tagoi'', a subspecies of
Tago's brown frog. The
SVL of Rana neba is about 3.8-4.8 cm (1.4-1.9 inches), and there is seemingly no sexual dimorphism in terms of
SVL, only in minor measurements e.g. the thickness of the forearm.
Etymology
The name ''Rana neba'' is derived from the village
Neba-mura,
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
, which is within the distribution of ''Rana neba''.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q18694528
Amphibians described in 2014
neba
Frogs of Asia
Endemic amphibians of Japan