Pseudophilautus variabilis

Pseudophilautus variabilis, also known as the variable bush frog or variable bubble-nest frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. This now extinct species was endemic to Sri Lanka.[1][2] Despite extensive searches in recent times, it is only known from collections prior to 1858. The reasons for its disappearance are unknown but probably involve habitat loss.[1][3]

Pseudophilautus variabilis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Rhacophoridae
Genus: Pseudophilautus
Species:
†P. variabilis
Binomial name
†Pseudophilautus variabilis
(Günther, 1858)
Synonyms[2]

Ixalus variabilis Günther, 1858
Rhacophorus variabilis (Günther, 1858)
Philautus variabilis (Günther, 1858)

Taxonomy

Pseudophilautus variabilis is only known with certainty from its lectotype.[4][3] The original type series consisted of ten syntypes, probably representing collections from several locations but without more specific information on their origins than "Ceylon". Therefore, the female illustrated in the species description was chosen as the lectotype in 2001.[4] One of the paralectotypes was in 2007 described as a new species, Pseudophilautus pardus, by Meegaskumbura and colleagues.[3]

Pseudophilautus wynaadensis from India has sometimes been mixed with this species.[1][2]

Description

The lectotype of Pseudophilautus variabilis is an adult female that measures 36–37 mm (1.4–1.5 in) in snout–vent length. The body is moderately elongate. The tympanum is rather indistinct while the supra-tympanic fold is distinct. The fingers and toes are moderately long; fingers have dermal fringes but no webbing whereas toes are medially webbed.[4][5]

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Pseudophilautus variabilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T58931A156585835. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T58931A156585835.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Pseudophilautus variabilis (Günther, 1858)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  3. Meegaskumbura, Madhava; Manamendra-Arachchi, Kelum; Schneider, Christopher J.; Pethiyagoda, Rohan (25 January 2007). "New species amongst Sri Lanka's extinct shrub frogs (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae: Philautus)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1397 (1): 1–15. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1397.1.1. ISSN 1175-5326.
  4. Bossuyt, F.; Dubois, A. (2001). "A review of the frog genus Philautus Gistel, 1848 (Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae, Rhacophorinae)" (PDF). Zeylanica. 6: 1–112.
  5. Manamendra-Arachchi, Kelum; Pethiyagoda, Rohan (2005). "The Sri Lankan shrub-frogs of the genus Philautus Gistel, 1848 (Ranidae: Rhacophorinae), with description of 27 new species" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Suppl. 12: 163–303.
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