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Tepuihyla exophthalma

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Tepuihyla exophthalma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Tepuihyla
Species:
T. exophthalma
Binomial name
Tepuihyla exophthalma
(Smith & Noonan, 2001)
Synonyms

Osteocephalus exophthalmus Smith & Noonan, 2001

Tepuihyla exophthalma is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is native to Guyana and Venezuela in South America.[2]

This species was first described to science in 2001. The type specimen was collected in the Pacaraima Mountains in western Guyana.[3] There it inhabited sclerophyll forest habitat and was observed to be active at night.[3]

This is the smallest member of the genus Osteocephalus, measuring just over 3 centimeters in length. Its eyes are described as "large and bulgy" and "huge and protruding" and inspired the specific epithet exophthalmus. They are buff with a black cross shape across the iris; this eye coloration is a main feature that distinguishes the species from other frogs in the genus. Its body is brownish above and cream-colored below, and the back surface of the thighs are black. The vocal sac of the male is not well developed. The skin is mostly smooth with a few tubercles along the dorsal surface and a granular texture to the throat and belly.[3]

After the first specimen was recorded, the species was also discovered living in Guyana's Kaieteur National Park and across the border in Estado Bolívar, Venezuela.[2]

References

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  1. ^ IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Tepuihyla exophthalma". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T79719247A79719303. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T79719247A79719303.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Barrio-Amorós, C. L. (2010). Amphibia, Hylidae, Osteocephalus exophthalmus Smith and Noonan, 2001: New country record and geographic distribution map, Venezuela. CheckList 6(3) 463-64.
  3. ^ a b c Smith, E. N. and B. P. Noonan. (2001). A new species of Osteocephalus (Anura: Hylidae) from Guyana. Revista de Biología Tropical 49(1) 347-57.