Cardioglossa cyaneospila | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Family: | Arthroleptidae |
Genus: | Cardioglossa |
Species: | C. cyaneospila
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Binomial name | |
Cardioglossa cyaneospila
Laurent, 1950
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Synonyms [2] | |
Cardioglossa nigromaculata cyaneospila Laurent, 1950 |
Cardioglossa cyaneospila is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to the Albertine Rift area in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, southwestern Uganda, Rwanda, and southwestern Burundi. [2] [3] It was described in 1950 by Raymond Laurent based on specimens collected in 1949. [3] No new records were published until 2011. [4] [5] Recent research has uncovered both old unpublished records and several new records, [3] and the conservation status was changed from "data deficient" to "near threatened" in 2016. [1] Common names Bururi long-fingered frog [3] and Mukuzira long-fingered frog have been coined for this species. [2]
Two males from Bururi measure about 31 mm (1.2 in) in snout–vent length. [6] The species is named for its unusual blueish gray color. [3] It has dark spots in its dorsum, a dark mask surrounding the eye and tympanum, and an infratympanic line typical for the genus Cardioglossa. [6] Males have extremely long third fingers. [7]
Cardioglossa cyaneospila occurs in montane forests [1] at elevations of 1,470–2,300 m (4,820–7,550 ft) above sea level, with one imprecise record from about 1,100–1,300 m (3,600–4,300 ft). [3] Specimens have been found active along trails during the day as well as active on the ground just before dusk, calling among low-lying vegetation some 1 metre above a stream. [3]
Montane forests in the range of this species are generally highly threatened by agricultural encroachment and logging. [1] However, it occurs in several protected areas, including Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, Kahuzi-Biéga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bururi Nature Reserve in Burundi, and Gishwati Forest in Rwanda. [1] [3] It is also likely to occur in the Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [1]