Pseudophilautus microtympanum
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
AMPHIBIA |
ANURA |
RHACOPHORIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Pseudophilautus microtympanum |
| Species Authority: |
(Günther, 1858) |
| Synonym/s: |
Philautus microtympanum Dubois, 1987 "1986"
Polypedates microtympanum Günther, 1858
|
| Taxonomic Notes: |
This species is sometimes placed in the genus Rhacophorus. |
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Endangered
B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2004 |
| Assessor/s: |
Kelum Manamendra-Arachchi, Anslem de Silva, Deepthi Wickramasinghe |
| Reviewer/s: |
Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team (Simon Stuart, Janice Chanson and Neil Cox) |
| Contributor/s: |
|
Justification:
Listed as Endangered because its Extent of Occurrence is less than 5,000 km2 and its Area of Occupancy is less than 500 km2, all individuals are in a single location, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat in the Central Hills of Sri Lanka.
|
Geographic Range
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| Range Description: |
This species is endemic to the Central Hills of Sri Lanka at elevations of 1,555-2,135m asl. There are records from Agra Bopath and Horton Plains (Manamendra-Arachchi and Pethiyagoda 2005). |
| Countries: |
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| Range Map: |
Click here to open the map viewer and explore range. |
Population
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| Population: |
Anslem de Silva (pers. comm.) reports that the population in the Horton Plains National Park may occur at a density of around 62,000 individuals per km², which suggests that the species is abundant where it occurs.
|
| Population Trend: |
Decreasing
|
Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
It inhabits both closed and open canopy habitats, including grasslands. Most sub-adults and juveniles were found in grassland and disturbed habitats, while mature males and larger females were usually found in closed-canopy habitats. Adults have been observed perched on branches 0.5-3.5m above ground (Manamendra-Arachchi and Pethiyagoda 2005). It breeds by direct development, and the eggs are deposited in humus.
|
| Systems: |
Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
The major threats are habitat loss, through the commercial harvesting of timber (clear-cutting) and firewood collection, agrochemical pollution, and the desiccation of habitat through periods of drought. In Horton Plains National Park, forest fires and dieback of mature trees are also threats.
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Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
It has been recorded from Horton Plains National Park, Agra Bopath Forest Reserve and Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve.
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