|
|
|
The Golden Tree Frog of East Asia |
|
|
Click on image for larger version
|
|
|
The Golden Tree Frog of East Asia |
|
Golden Tree Frog (Polypedates
leucomystax), Family Rhacophoridae |
Credit & Copyright: Dr. Bruce G.
Marcot
|
Explanation: This
small but beautiful anuran goes
by many names: golden tree Whew! Photographed here in Kaziranga National Park in northeast India, is a relatively common and widespread species of south and east Asia, and is not threatened. However, IUCN notes that this "species" is actually a complex of several poorly known "cryptic species," that is, a number of different species that appear nearly identical. Studies of distribution and genetics are needed to unravel this taxonomic mystery. Why? If at least one of the component cryptic species is rare or at risk, then it may deserve more stringent conservation classification. |
Next week's picture: Frozen Sands of the Gobi
< Previous ... | Archive |
Index |
Location | Search | About EPOW | ... Next >
|
|
Author & Webmaster: Dr.
Bruce G. Marcot, Tom Bruce
Disclaimers and Legal
Statements
Original material on Ecology Picture of the Week ©
Bruce G. Marcot
Member Theme of Taos-Telecommunity
frog, golden foam-nest frog, four-lined tree frog, Asian flying frog, golden
flying frog, common tree frog, and Asian tree frog. 