Description F 44 mm. Tibiotarsal articulation reaches the eye. Hand with webbing, foot webbing 1(0), 2i(0.5), 2e(0), 3i(0.5), 3e(0), 4i/e(0.5-0.75), 5(0). Dorsal skin smooth in females, probably with keratinized spines in males. Dorsally green with two incomplete yellow dorsolateral stripes. Iris turquoise in its outer area. Webbing purple red.
Distribution and Habitat
Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Madagascar
Isalo, Tsingy de Bemaraha, near Zazafotsy. It occurs between sea level and 800m asl. This species lives in dry and transitional forest, and has been found in severely degraded habitats with planted trees along streams in a village, although it cannot survive in completely open habitats (Glaw et al. 2008).
Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors Habits: In dry deciduous forests. Reproduction largely unknown, but likely to be similar to the previous species.
Calls: Unknown.
It breeds actively in streams (Glaw et al. 2008).
Trends and Threats Near Threatened: species depends on streams in a dry environment, and so its area of occupancy is probably not much greater than 2,000 km, and the extent and quality of its habitat is declining, thus making the species close to qualifying for vulnerable. It occurs in Parc National de Isalo and is likely to occur in the Réserve Spéciale de Kalambatritra, although it has not yet been found there. It also occurs in one planned protected area (Sahamalaza) (Glaw et al. 2008).
Relation to Humans There are no special interactions between local human communities and
B. occidentalis. It is not an object of hunt for alimentation. It is likely that
a certain (although - and hopefully - limited) collecting activity is made
(or will be soon or later be done) for the pet trade. The malagasy people know
this (and other) species of frogs with the simple name "sahona".
Possible reasons for amphibian decline General habitat alteration and loss Habitat modification from deforestation, or logging related activities Intensified agriculture or grazing Drainage of habitat Subtle changes to necessary specialized habitat Habitat fragmentation Intentional mortality (over-harvesting, pet trade or collecting)
Comments Taken with permission from Glaw and Vences (2007).
References
Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (1994). Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. M. Vences and F. Glaw Verlags GbR., Köln.
Glaw, F., Vences, M., and Cadle, J. (2008). Boophis occidentalis. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 08 April 2009.
Glaw, F., and Vences, M. (2007). Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Third Edition. Vences and Glaw Verlag, Köln.
Originally submitted by: Franco Andreone and Miguel Vences (first posted 2002-11-07)
Edited by: Henry Zhu (2009-05-05)Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2009 Boophis occidentalis: Western white lipped treefrog <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/6022> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Nov 23, 2024.
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Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 23 Nov 2024.
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