- Gardiner's Seychelles Frog
Taxobox
name = Seychelles Frogs
status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Amphibia
ordo =Anura
subordo =Neobatrachia
familia =Sooglossidae
genus =Sooglossus
species = "S. gardineri"
binomial = "Sooglossus gardineri"
binomial_authority = (Boulenger , 1911)Gardiner's Frog ("Sooglossus gardineri") is a small
frog of theSooglossidae family and endemic to theSeychelles .Physical description
Gardiner's Frog is one of the smallest frogs in the world, reaching a maximum length of 11 millimetres (0.4 in). Newly hatched frogs measure only 3 millimetres (0.1 in) in length. Adult males are only 8mm long. It is brown in colour, and has a dark stripe running from its mouth to its legs.
Ecology and behavior
Gardiner's Frog is a terrestrial frog, feeding on small invertebrates including
mite s, Sciarid larvae,ant s andamphipod s. It is restricted to the high and mid-altitude areas of Mahé andSilhouette Island s of theSeychelles group. This is unusual among theSooglossidae , as most are restricted to the high latitudes, which have a stable climate due to constant mist. Although Gardiner's Frog is secure in the regions in which it is found, it is classified as vulnerable by theIUCN Red List because it is restricted to only five localities.References
*cite web| title=Gardiner's tree frog - Sooglossus gardeneri: More information - ARKive| url=http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/amphibians/Sooglossus_gardineri/more_info.html | accessdate=2006-06-05
*cite web| title=Nature Seychelles - environmental conservation organisation - Sooglossidae frogs| url=? | accessdate=2006-06-05
*cite web| title= Global Amphibian Assessment - Detailed Report| url=http://www.globalamphibians.org/servlet/GAA?searchName=Sooglossus+gardineri| accessdate=2006-06-05
*cite web| title=Froglog 40-5| url=http://www.open.ac.uk/daptf/froglog/FROGLOG-40-5.html| accessdate=2006-06-05
* [http://members.aol.com/jstgerlach/herps.htm Monitoring and research into Seychelles amphibians and reptiles]
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