Transes On Amphibians

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College of Science and Mathematics | Department of Biological Sciences | BS Biology Animal Biology O
HERPETOLOGY SEM
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LECTURE / PROF. LEONARDO ESTAÑO 9
[TRANS]. MODULE ON AMPHIBIANS
OUTLINE FOR MODULE Amphibians Introduction

i. Introduction/Overview on Amphibians
- Are cold-blooded vertebrates made up of frogs, toads,
ii. Amphibian Diversity salamanders, newts, and caecilians (wormlike
iii. Family Ichthyophiidae animals with poorly developed eyes).
iv. Family Bombinatoridae - Amphibios from a Greek word meaning ‘double life’
v. Family Bufonidae
vi. Family Ceratobatrachidae
vii. Family Dicroglossidae
viii. Family Microhylidae
ix. Family Ranidae
x. Family Rhacophoridae
xi. Characteristics of Amphibians (Reproduction)
xii. Identifying tadpole larva
xiii. Development of Amphibians
xiv. Sympatric relationship
xv. Microhabitats of Amphibians in the Philippines
xvi. Issues on Field Identification
xvii. Distinguishing Characters
xviii. As Bioindicators of Habitat Health
Amphibians Overview
Example. Newt [Eastern (Red-Spotted) Newt Notophthalmus

viridescens] – Order: Urodela; Family: Salamandridae
- Born with gills, and while some outgrow (lungs) them

as they transform into adults, others retain them for
their entire lives.
- Anamniotes – lack of embryonic membranes
- Naked moist skin with mucous glands
Amphibian Diversity
Approximately 8,100 species of living amphibians are

known.
These include:
➢ Frogs and Toads (Anura)
➢ Newts and Salamanders (Caudata)
➢ Caecilians (Gymnophiona)
LISSAMPHIBIA
• About 116 species [present] (95 species[past]) in

the Philippines
• 10 amphibian families [present] (7 – past) in 2
orders [Philippines: only Anura & Gymnophiona]
• Order Caudata/Urodela – salamanders, newts
1 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

• Order Gymnophiona/Apoda – caecilians
• Order Salientia/Anura – frogs and toads
• Ceratobatrachidae – largest families [present]
(Ranidae and Rhacophoridae in the past)
• Many recently described, more await discovery

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HERPETOLOGY SEM
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Family Ichthyophiidae
- Asian tailed caecilians belong to the family Ichthyophidae from

the order Gymnophiona.
- In the Philippines there are only three species of ichthyophids

recorded belonging to
one genera: Ichthyophis.
- These caecilians are oviparous and are known to follow indirect

development.
- The mother lays its eggs in burrows near streams or rivers and
stays with the eggs until it hatches.
- Once it hatches the gilled larva will crawl to the nearby stream or
pond.
- The entire development cycle approximately takes 1 whole year to
complete.
- Ichthyophids are characterized by the presence of a distinct primary annuli which is divided or separated by a secondary
or tertiary groove.
- Scales can be observed in the posterior annuli but not anteriorly.
- Eyes are very distinct and tentacles lie between the eye and nostril but closer to the eye.
1. Ichthyophis glandulosus
Common Name: Abungabung caecilian

IUCN Status: Data deficient
Distribution Status: Endemic
Habitat: Lowland and lower montane forest
2. Ichthyophis mindanaoensis
Common Name: Todaya caecilian

IUCN Status: Data Deficient
Habitat: Lowland and submontane rainforest and
associated agricultural habitats
3. Ichthyophis weberi
Common Name: Malatgan river caecilian

IUCN Status: Endangered EN (IUCN, 2017) [Data
Deficient in PPT)
Habitat: Dry forest floor detritus
Family Bombinatoridae
- Formerly known as Discoglossidae, this family only has one representative
species, Barbourula busuangensis.
- It is a large, heavy-bodied, highly aquatic frog found in the fast-moving waters of
mountain streams on the Philippine islands of Busuanga and Palawan.
- Other characterizations are: dorsoventrally flattened body shape, dorsally
placed nostrils and eyes, robust and muscular hind limbs and forelimbs, and
webbed digits on the forelimbs as well as the hind limbs.
This frog’s coloration is dark, appearing dark green to black. A very distinct
character of members of this family is entirely adherent tongue along its lower jaw
margin.
Barbourula busuangensis
above: juvenile, below: adult
Common name: Palawan Flat

Headed Frog
IUCN Status: Near Threatened
(NT) B1ab(iii) – IUCN, 2017
Previous Published Red List
Assessments:
Vulnerable (VU) – IUCN, 2004
[same with PPT]
Habitat: Clear, unpolluted,
swift- flowing mountain
streams and rivers in Palawan
Family Bufonidae
- Toads belong to the family Bufonidae. They are characterized by having thick, warty
skin and an enlarge glands in the back of its head called paratoid gland.
- They tend to hop short to escape predators rather than long leaps like frogs.
- Other characters shared within the family are the presence of the Bidder’s organ,
absence of teeth, absence of posterior constrictor muscles, depressor mandibulae
originating from squamosal, presence of inguinal fat bodies and highly ossified skull.
1. Ansonia mcgregori
Common Name: McGregor’s Toad
IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC) – IUCN,
2018
Previous Published Red List Assessments:
Vulnerable (VU) – IUCN, 2004 (same with
PPT)
Habitat: Cool mountain streams and rivers in
lower montane and lowland forests
2. Ansonia muelleri
Common Name: Mueller’s Toad
IUCN Status: Least Concern, LC (IUCN, 2018)
Vulnerable (VU) – IUCN, 2004 (same with
PPT)
Habitat: Cool mountain streams and rivers in
montane rainforest

3. Ingerophrynus philippinicus
Common Name: Philippine Toad
IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC) – IUCN
(2018) [same with PPT]
Least Concern (LC) – IUCN (2004)
Habitat: Degraded habitats and man-made
environments; pristine lowland and montane
rainforests
4. Pelophryne albotaeniata
Common Name: Palawan Toadlet / White-
striped Flathead Toad
IUCN Status:
Vulnerable (VU) - IUCN 2018
Endangered (EN) – IUCN (2004)
Vulnerable (VU) – IUCN (2000)
Habitat: Degraded habitats and man-made
environments; pristine lowland and montane
rainforests
5. Pelophryne brevipes
Common Name: Zamboanga Flathead Toad
IUCN Status:
Least Concern (LC) – IUCN, 2019
Habitat: Arboreal microhabitats in closed-
canopy rainforest
6. Pelophryne lighti
Common Name: Eastern Mindanao Dwarf
Toad
IUCN Status:
Habitat: Arboreal microhabitats in riverine
areas in montane and lowland forests
7. Rhinella marina
Common Name: Cane Toad
IUCN Status:
Distribution Status: Introduced
Habitat: Humid areas with adequate cover

Family Ceratobatrachidae
- Forest frogs belong to this family.
- They are generally undergoing direct development,
which is a unique adaptation to survive water scarcity of
the young ones.
- Family Ceratobatrachidae is the largest family among
amphibians having 31 members.
1. Platymantis corrugatus
Common Name: Rough-backed forest frog
2018 (same with PPT)
Habitat: Forest floor stratum in undisturbed and
disturbed lower montane and lowland forests
2. Platymantis diesmosi
Common Name: Mt. Malinao forest frog
IUCN Status: Endangered (EN) – IUCN, 2017
Data Deficient – IUCN, 2008 (same with PPT)
Habitat: Mid-elevational transitional forest
bbetween lower and mid-montane dipterocarp
forest communities
3. Platymantis dorsalis
Common Name: Dumeril’s wrinkled ground
frog
2018 (same with PPT)
Habitat: The forest floor stratum in undisturbed
and disturbed lower montane and lowland
forests
4. Platymantis rabori
Common Name: Rabori’s forest frog
2017
Vulnerable (VU) – IUCN 2000 & 2004 [same
with PPT]
Habitat: Forest floor litter of montane and
lowland rainforests

5. Platymantis sierramadrensis
Common Name: No data
IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU) – IUCN, 2018
[same with PPT]
lowland rainforests
6. Platymantis spelaeus
Common Name: Cave wrinkled ground frog
IUCN Status: Endangered – IUCN, 2018 [same
with PPT]
2004 — Endangered (EN)
2000 — Critically Endangered (CR) as P.
spelaeus
1996 — Vulnerable (VU)
1996 — Vulnerable (VU) as P. spelaeus
1994 — Rare (R) as P. spelaeus
Habitat: Caves and limestone forest in lowland
forests
7. Platymantis subterrestris
Common Name: Luzon wrinkled ground frog
IUCN Status: Endangered (EN) – IUCN, 2018
[same with PPT]
2000 & 2004 — Endangered (EN)
Habitat: Arboreal microhabitats and montane
rainforests
Family Dicroglossidae
- Frogs with forked tongue belongs to this family.
- This family was previously placed under the Family Ranidae, but genetic analysis
showed that this group should be separated.
- The family consists of 18 species in which 19 species in 5 genera are found in the
Philippines.
1. Alcalus mariae
Common Name: Palawan Eastern Frog
IUCN Status: Endangered (EN) – IUCN,
2017
2018 — Endangered (EN)
2004 — Data Deficient (DD) as Ingerana
mariae [same with PPT]
2000 — Vulnerable (VU) as Micrixalus
mariae
Habitat: Forest floor leaf-litter in lower
montane forest

2. Fejervarya moodiei
Common Name: Palawan Eastern Frog
IUCN Status: Least Concern – IUCN
2020
Assessments:
2004 — Data Deficient (DD) [same with
PPT]
Distribution Status: Non-endemic
Habitat: Presumably an aquatic taxon
with larval development
3. Fejervarya vittegera
Common Name: Luzon wart frog
IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC)
Assessments:
Habitat: Anthropogenic habitats such as
agricultural areas, ditches, artificial ponds
and lakes
4. Limnonectes microcephalus
Common Name: Giant Philippine Frog
Assessments:
Habitat: Streams and rivers in lower
montane and lowland forests
5. Limnonectes magnus
Common Name: Giant Philippine Frog /
Mindanao Fanged Frog
IUCN Status: Near Threatened (NT) –
IUCN, 2018 [SAME WITH PPT]
Assessments:
2019 — Near Threatened (NT)
2004 — Near Threatened (NT)
Habitat: Undisturbed and disturbed
streams and rivers in lower montane and
lowland forests

6. Limnonectes leytensis
Common Name: Small Disked Frog /
Leyte Wart Frog
IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC) –
Assessments:
2004 — Least Concern (LC)
2000 — Data Deficient (DD) as Rana
leytensis
Habitat: Undisturbed and disturbed
streams and rivers in lower montane and
lowland forests
Family Eleutherodactylidae
- Is a new family of frog in the Philippines, having only one member to occur, althout in its native countries, members of
the family are diverse.
- The species was introduced, although in its native countries, member of this family is known as an invasive species,
the Eleutherodactylus planirostis.
1. Eleutherodactylus planirostris
Common Name: Greenhouse frog
IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC) –
Assessments:
2004 — Least Concern (LC)
Habitat: Mesic and xeric areas, forests,
caves, beaches, nurseries, gardens, and
urban areas
Family Megophryidae
• Cryptic frogs or litter frogs belong to the Family Megophryidae. Members of

this family are nocturnal and walk instead of jump because of its poor ability
to jump.
• Morphological characters that are exhibited by this family are absence of
ceratohyals in adults, presence of intervertebral cartilages with ossified
centers, a paddle like tongue, arciferal pectoral girdle with long bony sternum,
sacral diapophyses expanded anterior and posteriorly, absence of palatine
but with palatal process in the area.
1. Megophrys ligayae
Common Name: Palawan-horned frog
IUCN Status: Endangered (EN)
lowland rainforests and appears to be
dependent on mountain streams

2. Megophrys stejneri
IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU)
Habitat: Forest floor in leaf-litter of montane and
lowland rainforests and is dependent on
mountain streams
3. Leptobrachium lumadorum
Common Name: Mindanao Litter Frog
2017 [Unassessed]
Habitat: Forest, Wetlands (inland) [No Data]
4. Leptobrachium mangyanorum
Common Name: Mindoro Litter Frog [No
data]
IUCN Status: Vulnerable – IUCN, 2017 [Not
Evaluated]
Habitat: Forest, Artificial/Terrestrial [No
Data]
5. Leptobrachium tagbanorum
Common Name: Palawan Litter Frog [No
data]
IUCN Status: Vulnerable – IUCN, 2017 [Not
Evaluated]
Habitat: Forest, Wetlands (inland) [No Data]
Family Microhylidae
- The Family consists of narrow-mouthed frogs.
- Morphological characters of members of this family exhibits fully exposed
glottis in the buccal floor of larva, absence of cornified denticles in larva,
nares are not perforated in larva, ventrally divided velum in larva and two
to three palatal folds in adult individuals.
- Adult individuals also share similar body plan like presence of stout hind
legs, globose bodies which is teardrop shaped and a short snout.
- Reproductive biology of members of this family are varied.
- Some exhibit direct development and indirect development where some
larva does not have mouth parts.

1. Kaloula picta
Common Name: Slender-digit chorus frog
IUCN Status: Least Concern – IUCN, 2017
Habitat: Human habitats such as agricultural
areas, ditches, artificial ponds and lakes
2. Kaloula pulchra
Common Name: Malaysian narrowmouth toad
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Habitat: Commensal with humans that rapidly
colonizes urban habitats
3. Kaloula rigida
Common Name: Luzon narrow mouthed frog
IUCN Status: Vulnerable – IUCN, 2017
Habitat: Lower montane and lowland forests,
including streams and rivers
4. Kalophrynus sinensis
Common Name: Philippine sticky frog
IUCN Status: Unassessed
Habitat: No data
5. Kaloula baleata
Common Name: Smooth-fingered narrow
mouthed frog
Habitat: Lowland rainforests and is also tolerant
of disturbed habitats

6. Kaloula conjuncta
Common Name: Philippine narrow mouth toad
Habitat: Secondary growth vegetation and
manmade habitats
Family Ranidae
• Ranidae is the most widespread and one of the largest family of anurans which
consist of true frogs.
• They are usually medium to large in size, have smooth skin, and long legs with
webbing between the toes.
• Other members of this family exhibit dorsolateral folds or ridges.
• There are no distinct characters that distinguish the family Ranidae from other
families which proves that this family is paraphyletic.
1. Sanguirana tipanan
Common Name: Brown and Alcala’s Sierra
Madre’s frog
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Habitat: Cool streams and rivers in lower
2. Staurois natator
Common Name: Mindanao splash frog
Habitat: Clear, small, rocky streams in primary
forest in hilly terrain
3. Staurois nubilus
IUCN Status: Unassessed
Habitat: Clear, small, rocky streams in primary
forest in hilly terrain
4. Lithobates catesbeianus
Common Name: American bullfrog
Habitat: Ponds, swamps, lakes, reservoirs,
marshes, brackish ponds, stream margins, and
irrigation ditches

5. Pulchrana grandocula
Habitat: Undisturbed and disturbed streams and
rivers in lower montane and lowland forests
6. Pulchrana mangyanum
IUCN Status: Endangered
Habitat: Undisturbed and disturbed streams and
rivers in lower montane and lowland forests
Family Rhacophoridae
• This family is closely related to the Family Ranidae but
is differentiated by its webbed fingers and toes, large digital
pads or disks on the tips of the fingers and being arboreal.
• Another characteristic of members of Rhacophoridae
is large eyes with horizontal pupils.
• exhibit flashy coloration as a defense mechanism
against predators.
• Various reproductive strategies are adapted by
rhacophorids.
• Examples of these strategies are usage of foam nest
for egg laying, direct development and phytothelm breeding
which means that tadpoles are laid in tree holes.
1. Polypedates leucomystax
Common Name: White-lipped frog
Habitat: Beach vegetation througha ll manner of
human habitats
2. Polypedates macrotis
Common Name: Brown striped tree frog
Habitat: Primary forest and edge areas

3. Rhacophorus bimaculatus
Common Name: Mindanao Flying Frog
Habitat: Arboreal microhabitats, usually
beside water
4. Philautus surdus
Common Name: Common forest tree frog
IUCN Status: Least concern
Habitat: Arboreal microhabitats in lower
5. Philautus surrufus
Common Name: Molted tree frog
IUCN Status: Endangered
5. Philautus worcesteri
Common Name: Smooth-skinned tree frog

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HERPETOLOGY SEM
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External fertilization in Anurans
Amphibians Frogs Toads and Caecilians
Amplexus – the mating position of frogs and toads, in
which the male clasps the female about the back.
➢ The main purpose of amplexus is to align the
cloacae. The cloaca is the opening from which
males release sperm and females release eggs,
so the closer they are, the more efficient
fertilization is.
Viviparous
• Viviparity provides parents with more control over
development of offspring.
• Cold-Climate Hypothesis
• Maternal-Manipulation Hypothesis
Caecillian
- External fertilization occurs; the male releases sperm on
the eggs as they exit from the female’s cloaca.
- The male grasps the female so that his cloaca is
positioned just above the female’s cloaca.
Source: Laureie JV and Janalee PC (2014). Herpetology Reproduction and
Reproductive modes Elsevier ISBN: 978-0-12-386919-7
Identifying tadpole larva
Direct Development
Barbourula busuangensis [1,2,3] Platymantis dorsalis [4]
1. Carlos R. Infante (2003). "Barbourula busuangensis".

AmphibiaWeb. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
2. Diesmos, A.; Alcala, A.; Brown, R.; Afuang, L.; Gee, G.; Hampson,
K.; Diesmos, M.L.; Mallari, A.; Ong, P.; Ubaldo, D.& Gutierrez, B.
(2004). "Barbourula busuangensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species.ersion 2013.1. International Union for Conservation of
Nature. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
3. Brown, W. C., and Alcala, A. C. (1983). ''Modes of reproduction of
Philippine amphibians.'' Advances in Herpetology and Evolutionary
Biology. A. G. J. Rhodin and K. M. Miyata, eds., Museum of
Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, MA.
4. Narayan, E., Christi, K, and Morley, C. 2007. Captive management
of newly hatched froglets of Fijian ground frog (Platymantis):
Lesson learnt from unanticipated invertebrate predator invasion-
Fiji Islands. Conservation Evidence 4, 58-60.

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2ND

OUTLINE FOR MODULE Amphibians Introduction

Example. Newt [Eastern (Red-Spotted) Newt Notophthalmus

- Born with gills, and while some outgrow (lungs) them

Approximately 8,100 species of living amphibians are

• About 116 species [present] (95 species[past]) in

1 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

2 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

- Asian tailed caecilians belong to the family Ichthyophidae from

- In the Philippines there are only three species of ichthyophids

- These caecilians are oviparous and are known to follow indirect

Common Name: Abungabung caecilian

Common Name: Todaya caecilian

Common Name: Malatgan river caecilian

Common name: Palawan Flat

4 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

5 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

6 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

7 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

8 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

• Cryptic frogs or litter frogs belong to the Family Megophryidae. Members of

9 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

10 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

11 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

12 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

13 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

14 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

Identifying tadpole larva

Barbourula busuangensis [1,2,3] Platymantis dorsalis [4]

1. Carlos R. Infante (2003). "Barbourula busuangensis".

16 QUIRANTE, LG. S. | IV - ANBIO (S56T56)

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