Philautus zimmeri
Encyclopedia
Philautus zimmeri is an extinct species of frog
in the Rhacophoridae
family.
It was endemic to Sri Lanka
, where it was recorded from the vicinity of Galle
. It was a small frog—the holotype
measures 31.6 mm from snout to vent—which resembled Philautus fulvus
. P. zimmeri is assumed to have become extinct due to habitat loss caused by urbanization.
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
in the Rhacophoridae
Rhacophoridae
Rhacophoridae is a family of frog species, which occur in tropical regions of Asia and Africa. They are commonly known as shrub frogs, or more ambiguously as "moss frogs" or "bush frogs". Some Rhacophoridae are called "tree frogs"...
family.
It was endemic to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, where it was recorded from the vicinity of Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
. It was a small frog—the holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
measures 31.6 mm from snout to vent—which resembled Philautus fulvus
Philautus fulvus
Philautus fulvus is a species of frog in the Rhacophoridae family.It is endemic to Sri Lanka.Its natural habitats are plantations , rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
. P. zimmeri is assumed to have become extinct due to habitat loss caused by urbanization.
Source
- Manamendra-Arachchi, K. & de Silva, A. 2004. Philautus zimmeri. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 23 July 2007.