Amolops

:"Cascade frog" redirects here. For the North American species "Rana cascadae", see Cascades Frog."Taxobox
name = Cascade frogs
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
classis = Amphibia
subclassis = Lissamphibia
ordo = Anura
subordo = Neobatrachia
superfamilia = Ranoidea
familia = Ranidae
genus = "Amolops"
genus_authority = Cope, 1865
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = Many, see text

"Amolops" is a quite large genus of true frogs (family Ranidae) native mainly to eastern and southeastern Asia. These frogs are quite closely related to such genera as "Huia", "Meristogenys", "Odorrana", "Pelohylax" and "Rana", but still form a distinct lineage among the core radiation of true frogsCai "et al." (2007), Stuart (2008)] . They are commonly known as "torrent frogs" after their favorite habitat - small rapid-flowing mountain and hill streams -, but this name is used for many similar-looking frogs regardless of whether they are loosely related. Cascade frogs is a less ambiguous name.

Several species are highly convergent with other Ranidae "torrent frogs". "A. archotaphus" and its relatives for example very much resemble "Odorrana livida". In another incidence of convergent evolution yielding adaptation to habitat, the tadpoles of "Amolops", "Huia", "Meristogenys" as well as "Rana sauteri" have a raised and usually well-developed sucker on their belly. This is useful in keeping in place in rocky torrents, where these frogs grow up. But as "Odorrana" and "Staurois" from comparable habitat prove, this sucker is by no means a necessity and other means of adaptation to torrent habitat exist. [Stuart (2008)]

elected species

The delimitation of this genus has proven comlicated, with many species believed to belong elsewhere. Due to the degreee of convergent evolution, DNA sequence studies are very helpful in assigning species to the genera, though the possibility of past hybridization cannot be discounted in Ranidae.

New species are described on a regular basis. At least one undescribed species is known to exist, a very distinct form from Phetchaburi in Thailand that is possibly closer to "A. marmoratus" than to most others.Cai "et al." (2007)]

* "Amolops archotaphus"
* "Amolops bellulus"
* "Amolops chakrataensis"
* "Amolops chapaensis"
* "Amolops chunganensis"
* "Amolops compotrix"
* "Amolops cremnobatus"
* "Amolops cucae"
* "Amolops daiyunensis" (Liu & Hu, 1975)
* "Amolops daorum"
* "Amolops formosus"
* "Amolops gerbillus"
* "Amolops granulosus"
* "Amolops hainanensis"
* "Amolops himalayanus"
* "Amolops hongkongensis" – Hong Kong Cascade Frog
* "Amolops iriodes"
* "Amolops jaunsari"
* "Amolops jinjiangensis"
* "Amolops kangtingensis"
* "Amolops kaulbacki"
* "Amolops larutensis"
* "Amolops liangshanensis"
* "Amolops lifanensis"
* "Amolops loloensis"
* "Amolops longimanus"
* "Amolops mantzorum"
* "Amolops marmoratus"
* "Amolops monticola"
* "Amolops nepalicus"
* "Amolops panhai" Matsui & Nabhitabhata, 2006
* "Amolops ricketti"
* "Amolops spinapectoralis"
* "Amolops taiwanianus" (Otsu, 1973)
* "Amolops torrentis"
* "Amolops tuberodepressus"
* "Amolops viridimaculatus"
* "Amolops vitreus"
* "Amolops wuyiensis"
* "Amolops" sp. 'Phetchaburi'

"A. mengyangensis" is a junior synonym of "Odorrana nasica", the Long-snout Torrent Frog. The Concave-eared Torrent Frog, formerly "A. tormotus", is now "Odorrana tormota".

Footnotes

References

* (2007): Paraphyly of Chinese "Amolops" (Anura, Ranidae) and phylogenetic position of the rare Chinese frog, "Amolops tormotus". "Zootaxa" 1531: 49–55. [http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/z01531p055f.pdf PDF abstract and first page text]
* (2008): The phylogenetic problem of "Huia" (Amphibia: Ranidae). "Mol. Phylogenet. Evol." 46(1): 49-60. doi|10.1016/j.ympev.2007.09.016 (HTMl abstract)