Description
P. brownii is characterized by its small size (males having a maximum snout-vent length of 23.4 mm and females having one of 26.7 mm), expanded finger and toe discs, second finger longer than the first, toes with basal webbing, a relatively short and rounded snout, an eye diameter less than the length of the snout, a smooth dorsum with two suprascapular folds but lacking tubercles,and no tubercles on the eyelids.
In coloration, individuals have a light bronze brown to grayish brown dorsum, which is sometimes marked with faint brown mottling, and often with a vertebral line and irregularly shaped black patches, especially in the scapular area. The lateral parts of the dorsum and flanks are similar, often with a reddish tinge, and the face is dark brown to black, often with a faint brownish white banding on the jaw. It generally has black surrounding the anus, upper parts of the legs similarly colored as the dorsum, a yellowish gray to grayish black venter with sliver flecks, and a light bronze ot golden bronze iris.
Thy are most active at night following a heavy rainfall, when males call continuously every 2-7 sec. Males were observed producing 3 different types of calls: a single metallic click followed by one or two rapid series of pulsed notes with an approximate dominant frequency of 3700 Hz, a buzz sometimes preceded by a short series of clicks at a dominant frequency of 3200 Hz, and a series of clicks sometimes followed by a buzz with a long termination note at a dominant frequency of 2950 Hz.

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Papua New Guinea

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

P. brownii is currently known only from the Weitin River Valley in southern New Ireland and from eastern New Britain. It was recorded as occurring at both at lowland (100 to 200 m) and midelevation (1100-1300 m) altitudes.
It is found in primary and secondary closed-canopy forest. Individuals stay sheltered in leaf litter during most of the day.

References

Allison, A. and Kraus, F. (2001). ''New species of Platymantis (Anura: Ranidae) from New Ireland.'' Copeia, 2001(1), 194-202.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2016 Platymantis browni <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/5819> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Nov 26, 2024.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 26 Nov 2024.

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