Aromobatidae
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Shiny-thigh tree climber ( Allobates femoralis ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Aromobatidae | ||||||||||||
| Grant et al., 2006 |
The Aromobatidae are a family of frogs found in tropical Central and South America . The group, which is closely related to and very similar to the poison dart frogs , was separated from them as a separate family, mainly on the basis of molecular biological findings. It comprises five genera and 121 species. Contrary to their reputation as poison dart frogs, which they owe to their earlier systematic classification, the Aromobatidae are non-toxic.
Taxonomy
Relations with other taxa
The frogs classified today as Aromobatidae were in the past assigned to the tree dart frog family (Dendrobatidae). However, on the basis of an extensive analysis of phenotypic and molecular genetic traits, they were spun off as a new family of their own. The families Aromobatidae and Dendrobatidae arranged in this way are sister groups . The former grouping of the poison dart frogs, which included the Aromobatidae, is thus monophyletic . It was raised to the rank of a superfamily called Dendrobatoidea during the taxonomic conversion . However, the German name Baumsteigerfrösche was adapted to the family level in such a way that it no longer includes the Aromobatidae.
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- Phylogenetic Relationships and Classification of the Aromobatidae
Subfamilies and genera
Within the Aromobatidae, three new subfamilies and two new genera were created when they were first described , resulting in the following classification:
Subfamily Anomaloglossinae Grant, Frost, Caldwell, Gagliardo, Haddad, Kok, Means, Noonan, Schargel & Wheeler, 2006
- Genus Anomaloglossus Grant, Frost, Caldwell, Gagliardo, Haddad, Kok, Means, Noonan, Schargel & Wheeler, 2006
- Genus Rheobates Grant, Frost, Caldwell, Gagliardo, Haddad, Kok, Means, Noonan, Schargel & Wheeler, 2006
Subfamily Aromobatinae Grant, Frost, Caldwell, Gagliardo, Haddad, Kok, Means, Noonan, Schargel & Wheeler, 2006
- Genus Aromobates Myers, Paolillo & Daly, 1991
- Genus Mannophryne Marca, 1991
Subfamily Allobatinae Grant, Frost, Caldwell, Gagliardo, Haddad, Kok, Means, Noonan, Schargel & Wheeler, 2006
- Genus Allobates Zimmermann & Zimmermann, 1988
While the Anomaloglossinae emerge from a basal branch of the Aromobatidae, there is a sister group relationship between the Aromobatinae and the Allobatinae. The final classification of the first description is incorrect in this regard. When describing the Aromobatidae, only two subfamilies, Anomaloglossinae and Aromobatinae, are initially listed, which are then described as sister groups. Subsequently, however, the third subfamily Allobatinae is described and, in contradiction to this, also referred to as the sister group of the Aromobatinae. The phylogenetic relationships shown above correspond to the summarized representations of the first descriptors in a cladogram that does not show these contradictions.
The species "Prostherapis" dunni Rivero, 1961, is added to the Aromobatidae incertae sedis , whose position within the family is unclear.
features
Although the establishment of the family Aromobatidae is based on an analysis of both phenotypic and molecular genetic data, synapomorphies and individual diagnostic features are found exclusively in different, primarily mitochondrial, DNA sequences . Morphologically and ethologically (see section Lifestyle) the Aromobatidae are very similar to their sister group, the poison dart frogs. In contrast to these, however, they do not secrete alkaloids and are therefore not toxic. Perhaps in connection with this, some representatives of the Aromobatidae are more inconspicuously colored than tree dart frogs, so that they are camouflaged from attackers.
Geographical distribution
Aromobatidae can be found in the tropical belt of Central and South America and in the Lesser Antilles . The largest number of species occurs on the eastern slopes of the Andes , in the rainforest of the Amazon basin and the Mata Atlântica . Farthest north on the Central American land bridge, the distribution area of Allobates talamancae extends to southern Nicaragua . In the Caribbean , Allobates chalcopis is found in Martinique , Mannophryne trinitatis in Trinidad and even further north Mannophryne olmonae in Tobago . In Brazil the distribution area ends south of the tropical rainforest areas, in the Andes the southernmost species is Allobates mcdiarmidi in Bolivia .
Way of life
The habitat of the Aromobatidae is the tropical rainforest . In the Andes, they inhabit the lowest altitude levels , which are characterized by this type of vegetation. Rheobates penetrates at heights of over 2000 m. In the Amazon and in eastern Brazil, the distribution is also concentrated in the rainforest areas. With the exception of Aromobates nocturnus , Aromobatidae are diurnal and terrestrial . Habitat selection and reproduction show many parallels to the poison dart frogs. Some representatives prefer to be near river banks, while others appear further away from it. The tadpoles are transported on their backs by adult animals. This brood care behavior is carried out either only by the males or by both sexes together. An exception to this is the species Allobates talamancae , in which only the females transport tadpoles. The larvae, protected by adult animals, grow in standing or flowing water on the ground, sometimes also in phytotelmata , for example on bromeliads .
Hazard and protection
The dependence on the tropical rainforest as a habitat implies a similar risk situation as with the poison dart frogs, however only insufficient population data are available for many Aromobatidae. In the Red List of Threatened Species of IUCN is if there are numerous types of Anomaloglossus and Allobates found the data material is inadequate. For the other species, the classification ranges from Least Concern (not endangered) to Critically Endangered (threatened with extinction). All representatives of the genera Aromobates and Mannophryne are particularly endangered . "Prostherapis" dunni is classified as Critically Endangered (critically endangered). In the Washington Convention on the Protection of Species (CITES), Appendix II, only two species of the genus Allobates are listed.
swell
- ↑ a b c d e f T. Grant, DR Frost, JP Caldwell, R. Gagliardo, CFB Haddad, PJR Kok, DB Means, BP Noonan, WE Schargel & WC Wheeler (2006): Phylogenetic systematics of dart-poison frogs and their relatives (Amphibia: Athesphatanura: Dendrobatidae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 299, 262 pp. PDF online
- ^ E. La Marca (2004): Systematic status of an enigmatic and possibly endangered dendrobatid frog (Colostethus dunni) from the valley of Caracas, northern Venezuela . Herpetotropicos 1: 19-28. PDF online
- ↑ Allobates talamancae , Striped Rocket Frog . Peera Chantasirivisal, Kellie Whittaker. November 2, 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
- ↑ Amphibians, Reptiles, & Environments, The Herpetofauna of Trinidad and Tobago . John C. Murphy. 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
- ↑ Allobates mcdiarmidi . Amphibia Web. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
- ↑ Aromobatidae . David Knight. 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
- ^ The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
- ↑ CITES . www.cites.org. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
Web links
- Aromobatidae - Fragrant Frogs - JCM Natural History Photography.
- Aromobatidae - The World of Frogs.