Phyllomedusa sauvagii

Cladus: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Amphibia
Subclassis: Lissamphibia
Ordo: Anura
Subordo: Neobatrachia
Familia: Hylidae
Subfamilia: Phyllomedusinae
Genus: Phyllomedusa
Species: Phyllomedusa sauvagii

Name

Phyllomedusa sauvagii Boulenger, 1882

Type locality: "Buenos Ayres. . . . Oran Salta", Argentina.

Syntypes: BM 1947. 2. 25. 83-84 (formerly 81.7.2.3 and 1937.7.29.43).

Synonyms

* Phyllomedusa sauvagii Boulenger, 1882
* Phyllomedusa Rickettsii Günther, 1897
* Phyllomedusa rickettsii — Nieden, 1923
* Phyllomedusa sauvagii rickettsii — Cei, 1956
* Phyllomedusa sauvagii sauvagii — Cei, 1956
* Phyllomedusa sauvagei — Funkhouser, 1957
* Pithecopus sauvagii — Lutz, 1966

References

* Boulenger, 1882, Cat. Batr. Sal. Coll. Brit. Mus., Ed. 2: 429.
* Funkhouser, 1957, Occas. Pap. Nat. Hist. Mus. Stanford Univ., 5: 54.
* Frost, Darrel R. 2007. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 5.1 (10 October, 2007). Electronic Database accessible at [1] American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Phyllomedusa sauvagii . Accessed on 30 Apr 2008.
* 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN link: Phyllomedusa sauvagii (Least Concern) Downloaded on 30 April 2008.

Vernacular names
Internationalization
English: Painted-belly Leaf Frog

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Phyllomedusa sauvagii, commonly known as the Waxy Monkey Leaf Frog, is a hylid frog belonging to the subfamily of South and Central American leaf frogs, Phyllomedusinae that inhabits the Chaco (dry prairie) of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. The subfamily consists of around 50 species in three well known genera, Phyllomedusa, Agalychnis and Pachymedusa.[4] The vast majority of known species, including Phyllomedusa sauvagei, belong to the Phyllomedusa genus.

Phyllomedusa sauvagii has adapted to meet the demands of life in the trees. It does not need to return to the ground during the mating season, rather it lays its eggs down the middle of a leaf before folding the leaf, sandwiching the eggs inside. Its nest is attached to a branch suspended over a stream so that hatching tadpoles drop into the water.[5] In common with other phyllomedusines, it presents physiological and behavioural adaptations to limit water loss including impermeabilisation of the skin by lipid secretions, excretion of uric acid (uricotelism) and diurnal torpor.[6] Lipid secretions are produced in a special type of cutaneous gland and are spread over the surface of the skin by the legs in a complex sequence of wiping movements.

Males and females range from about 2 to 3 inches in length, with the females usually about 25% larger than males. They move by walking rather than hopping, which is the reason for the "monkey" in their name. They are very calm, careful creatures. During the day, they bask in the sun with their legs pulled underneath them, and hunt for various insects at night.

It is kept as a pet.

References

1. ^ http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/55863/0/full
2. ^ http://sciencenotes.wordpress.com/2008/09/07/waxy-monkey-frog/
3. ^ http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/references.php?id=13504
4. ^ Walls, J.G. (1996) Red-eyes and other leaf-frogs. T.F.H. Publications.
5. ^ Frazer, J.F.D. (1973) Amphibians. Wykeham Publications, London, pp.75.
6. ^ Blaylock, L. A., Ruibal, R. and Platt-Aloia, K. (1976) Skin structure and wiping behavior of Phyllomedusinae frogs. Copeia, 1976: 283–295.

* Article Road: List of All Frog Breeds: Things You Can Do to Ensure Your Frog Has a Long, Happy and Healthy Life: Waxy Monkey Tree Frog
* Aqualand: How to care for your new Waxy Monkey Tree Frog