Hong Kong cascade frog

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Hong Kong cascade frog

Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)^[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Ranidae
Genus:	Amolops
Species:	A. hongkongensis
Binomial name
*Amolops hongkongensis* (Pope and Romer, 1951)
Synonyms
Staurois hongkongensis Pope and Romer, 1951

Hong Kong cascade frog or Hong Kong torrent frog (Amolops hongkongensis) is a species of true frog from southern coastal China,^[2] once thought to be endemic to Hong Kong. Their eggs are laid on rock faces in the splash zones of cascades.^[3] In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap 170.

Distribution and habitat

Originally described from Tai Mo Shan in Hong Kong, populations are now also known from Guangdong.^[1]^[2] In Hong Kong, the species is found in the New Territories and on Hong Kong Island.^[3] It was found in rather small streams in Lung Fu Shan.^[4]

Amolops hongkongensis inhabit forest-fringed, small hill streams, particularly those with cascades. Tadpoles have a ventral sucker helping them to maintain their position in the stream. Its habitat is threatened by silviculture, clear-cutting, and dam and other infrastructure construction.^[1]

Description

Both male and female Amolops hongkongensis grow to a snout–vent length of 40 mm (1.6 in). Tadpoles are up to 25 mm (0.98 in) in length.^[5] The diameter of its suction discs is 3-4 times the width of the fingers. It contains the tarsal fold and has white velvety nuptial pads on the first fingers.^[3]

Gallery

Hong Kong cascade frog (Amolops hongkongensis)
Hong Kong cascade frog (Amolops hongkongensis)
Hong Kong cascade frog (Amolops hongkongensis)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2021). "Amolops hongkongensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T58210A63852284. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T58210A63852284.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Amolops hongkongensis (Pope and Romer, 1951)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lau, Michael (2005). "The South China Cascade Frog, Amolops ricketti, found in Hong Kong". Porcupine!. 32 (March 2005). Department of Ecology and Biodiversity, HKU: 8. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
^ Sung, Yik Hei (2006). "Night safaris in Lung Fu Shan Country Park, Hong Kong". Porcupine!. 34 (September 2006). Department of Ecology and Biodiversity, HKU: 16–17. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
^ Fei, L. (1999). Atlas of Amphibians of China (in Chinese). Zhengzhou: Henan Press of Science and Technology. p. 242. ISBN 7-5349-1835-9.

External links

Media related to Amolops hongkongensis at Wikimedia Commons

Frogs in the Amolops genus

Frogs portal

Taxon identifiers
Amolops hongkongensis	Wikidata: Q2716158 Wikispecies: Amolops hongkongensis AmphibiaWeb: 4647 ARKive: amolops-hongkongensis ASW: Amolops-hongkongensis BOLD: 169282 CoL: 66DY8 EoL: 333315 GBIF: 5217769 iNaturalist: 25872 IRMNG: 10234564 ITIS: 664897 IUCN: 58210 NCBI: 109946 Observation.org: 201583 Open Tree of Life: 284230

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