Melanophryniscus peritus

Critically endangered, possibly extinct  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Bufonidae
Genus: Melanophryniscus
Species:
M. peritus
Binomial name
Melanophryniscus peritus
Pico do Selado in Brazil
Pico do Selado in Brazil
Melanophryniscus peritus is only known from Pico do Selado in Minas Gerais

Melanophryniscus peritus is a species of frog in the family Bufonidae.[3] It is only known from a single specimen collected in 1953, and may be extinct.

Taxonomy

Melanophryniscus peritus was described in 2011 by Ulisses Caramaschi and Carlos Alberto Gonçalves da Cruz. Originally, it was placed in the Melanophryniscus tumifrons group. The specific name, peritus, is from the Latin verb pereo, meaning to vanish or disappear. It was given to reflect the species' status.[2]

Description

The holotype and only known specimen was a female 39.3 mm long (SVL), a medium size for the genus. It also had a wide head, dark brown coloration on its dorsal side, and a lighter brown underside.[2]

Habitat and distribution

The species is only known from its type locality, Pico do Selado in the Mantiqueira mountain range of southeastern Brazil. This is further north than the majority of members in the Melanophryniscus tumifrons group. Based on the activities of other members of the genus, Melanophryniscus peritus is believed to inhabit small ponds, flooded areas near rivulets, and bromeliads.[2]

History

The only known specimen of Melanophryniscus peritus was collected on November 4, 1953 by German-Brazilian naturalist Helmut Sick. Multiple surveys of the species' known range have failed to uncover any more individuals, and it is listed as "critically endangered" and possibly extinct. It's believed that habitat loss led to the species' decline.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Melanophryniscus peritus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T46086107A46086111. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T46086107A46086111.en. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Caramaschi, Ulisses & Cruz, Carlos Alberto Gonçalves (April 19, 2011). "A new, possibly threatened species of Melanophryniscus Gallardo, 1961 from the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae)". Boletim do Museu Nacional. Nova Serie, Zoologia. 528: 1–9. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  3. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2021). "Melanophryniscus peritus Caramaschi and Cruz, 2011". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
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