Philoria knowlesi

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

Only scientifically named in 2022, this is a small species of frog reaching about 3 cm in body length. It has a light brown back, sometimes with a greenish or reddish hue. Two to three large, darker patches, or many small, lighter spots are sometimes present. There is a black stripe from the tip of the snout to the arm, which is widest between the eye and arm. The belly is reddish, yellowish-brown, or dark brown and patchy. The pupil is horizontal, and the iris is gold in the upper half and dark brown in the lower half. Fingers and toes are unwebbed, both without discs. Reproducing females have large flanges on the first and second finger, which help to whip up protective foam around the eggs as they are laid.

Breeding Biology

The breeding biology of this newly-described species is still poorly known. One nest has been observed in seepy headwaters, in which about 40 eggs were held within a foamy, viscous mass, attended by an adult female. However, much can be inferred closely related species, which deposit their eggs in such nests, whipped up by the female using the flanges on her fingers, in mud burrows under rocks, logs, and leaf litter. Tadpoles of related species can reach a total length of up to nearly 2 cm and are mostly transparent white, only developing brown colour in later growth stages. They often remain inside the broken-down egg mass feeding on their own yolk reserves, and may take one to four months to develop into frogs.

Similar Species

Looks very similar to Philoria kundagungan, Philoria pughi and Philoria richmondensis near its distribution, but can be distinguished by its location in most cases, and lacks the distinctive red back colour often seen on Philoria kundagungan.