Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Phyllomedusa sauvagii

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Kingdom
  
Order
  
Anura

Subfamily
  
Phyllomedusinae

Scientific name
  
Phyllomedusa sauvagii

Rank
  
Species

Phylum
  
Chordata

Family
  
Genus
  
Phyllomedusa

Higher classification
  
Phyllomedusa

Phyllomedusa sauvagii phyllomedusa sauvagii Warziger Makifrosch im Exotarium im Flickr

Similar
  
Phyllomedusa, Frog, Amphibians, Hylidae, Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis

Phyllomedusa sauvagii, commonly known as the waxy monkey tree frog, waxy monkey frog or painted-bellied tree frog is a hylid frog belonging to the subfamily of South and Central American leaf frogs, Phyllomedusinae, that inhabits the Chaco of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil. The subfamily consists of around 50 species in three well-known genera, Phyllomedusa, Agalychnis, and Pachymedusa. The vast majority of known species, including Phyllomedusa sauvagei, belong to the genus Phyllomedusa.

Contents

Phyllomedusa sauvagii httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Phyllomedusa sauvagii has adapted to meet the demands of life in the trees. It does not need to return to the ground during the mating season; rather, it lays its eggs down the middle of a leaf before folding the leaf, sandwiching the eggs inside. Its nest is attached to a branch suspended over a stream, so the hatching tadpoles drop into the water. In common with other phyllomedusines, it has physiological and behavioural adaptations to limit water loss, including reducing water loss through the skin by lipid secretions, excretion of uric acid (uricotelism), and diurnal torpor. Lipid secretions are produced in a special type of cutaneous gland, and are spread over the surface of the skin by the legs in a complex sequence of wiping movements.

Phyllomedusa sauvagii Phyllomedusa sauvagii Wikipdia

Males and females range from about 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) in length, with the females usually about 25% larger than males. They move by walking rather than hopping, which is the reason for the "monkey" in their name. They are very calm, careful creatures. During the day, they bask in the sun with their legs pulled underneath them, and hunt for various insects at night.

Phyllomedusa sauvagii Phyllomedusa Sauvagii commonly known as the Waxy Monkey Leaf Frog

Waxy monkey tree frogs phyllomedusa sauvagii


Peptides

Phyllomedusa sauvagii Phyllomedusa sauvagii YouTube

The frogs generate many different pharmacologically active peptides as part of the defensive secretions covering their skin. Several of these peptides have found scientific uses as research ligands, including the opioid peptide dermorphin and the Corticotropin-releasing hormone mimic sauvagine.

References

Phyllomedusa sauvagii Wikipedia