{{short description|Species of frog}} {{Speciesbox | name = | image = Hyperolius thomensis.jpg | status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. |year=2020 |title=''Hyperolius thomensis'' |volume=2020 |article-number=e.T56289A149751950 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T56289A149751950.en |access-date=9 August 2021}}</ref> | genus = Hyperolius | species = thomensis | authority = Bocage, 1886 | synonyms = ''Rappia thomensis'' <small>(Bocage, 1886)</small><br/> ''Nesionixalus thomensis'' <small>(Bocage, 1886)</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref name=Frost/> | range_map = Locator map of São Tomé in São Tomé & Príncipe.jpg | range_map_caption = range }} '''''Hyperolius thomensis''''' is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to the island of São Tomé in São Tomé and Príncipe.<ref name=IUCN/><ref name=Frost/><ref name=AmphibiaWeb/><ref name="Channing and Rödel 2019"/> Common names '''São Tomé reed frog''',<ref name="Channing and Rödel 2019"/> '''São Tomé giant reed frog''',<ref name=IUCN/> and '''Sao Tome giant treefrog''' have been coined for it.<ref name=AmphibiaWeb/> It is the largest ''Hyperolius'' species.<ref name=AmphibiaWeb/><ref name="Drewes and Stoelting 2004"/>
==Taxonomy and systematics== The species was named by José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage in 1886.<ref name=Frost/> It is the type species of the genus ''Nesionixalus'' Perret, 1976. Its sister taxon ''Hyperolius molleri'' has also been placed in ''Nesionixalus''. Together, these two species form a clade, but its recognition as a genus would render rest of ''Hyperolius'' paraphyletic.<ref name="Drewes and Wilkinson 2004"/> The two species can form hybrids.<ref name="Bell et al. 2015"/>
==Description== Adult males measure {{convert|27|-|41|mm|abbr=on}} and adult females {{convert|36|-|49|mm|abbr=on}} in snout–vent length.<ref name=AmphibiaWeb/><ref name="Drewes and Wilkinson 2004"/> The dorsum is uniform brown or green to blue-green. The venter is marbled in white, orange and black. The ventral surfaces of the limbs are richly marbled in orange and black. Males have their dorsum densely beset with small spines. The pupil is horizontal.<ref name=AmphibiaWeb/>
==Habitat and conservation== ''Hyperolius thomensis'' inhabits primary rainforest remnants usually at altitudes above {{convert|800|m|ft}}, but occasionally as low as {{convert|350|m|ft}}.<ref name=IUCN/> Breeding takes place in tree holes where their tadpoles develop, and the same hole can be utilized by many individuals.<ref name=IUCN/><ref name="Drewes and Stoelting 2004"/>
The threats to this species are poorly known, but it is probably impacted by habitat loss caused by agriculture, livestock, wood extraction, and human settlements. Its range includes the Parque Natural Obô de São Tomé.<ref name="dopa">{{cite web|url=https://dopa-explorer.jrc.ec.europa.eu/wdpa/124355 |title=DOPA: Parque Natural Obô de São Tomé|publisher=Joint Research Centre|access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref>
== Threats ==
=== Habitat Loss === Habitat loss, primarily driven by the conversion of land for agriculture and livestock, poses a significant threat to the São Tomé Giant Reed Frog. Additionally, the species faces challenges from habitat reduction due to activities such as wood extraction and the expansion of human settlements.<ref name="IUCN" />
=== Amphibian Chytrid Fungus (Bd) Infection === A survey conducted for the presence of the amphibian chytrid fungus (Bd) revealed infections dating back to 2001. Despite the identification of the fungus, no instances of sick or deceased frogs have been reported in the field. However, the highly virulent strain of the pathogen (Bd-GPL) present on São Tomé Island raises concerns about its potential threat to the species.<ref name="IUCN" />
==References== {{Reflist|30em|refs= <ref name=AmphibiaWeb>{{cite web |url=http://amphibiaweb.org/species/611 |title=''Hyperolius thomensis'' Sao Tome Giant Treefrog |year=2008 |work=AmphibiaWeb |publisher=University of California, Berkeley |access-date=17 October 2017}}</ref>
<ref name="Bell et al. 2015">{{cite journal |last1=Bell |first1=Rayna C. |last2=Drewes |first2=Robert C. |last3=Zamudio |first3=Kelly R. |title=Reed frog diversification in the Gulf of Guinea: Overseas dispersal, the progression rule, and in situ speciation |journal=Evolution |date=2015 |volume=69 |issue=4 |pages=904–915 |doi=10.1111/evo.12623|pmid=25715968 |s2cid=43801840 }}</ref>
<ref name="Channing and Rödel 2019">{{cite book |title=Field Guide to the Frogs & other Amphibians of Africa |last1=Channing |first1=Allan |last2=Rödel |first2=Mark-Oliver |name-list-style=amp |year=2019 |publisher=Struik Nature |location=Cape Town |isbn=978-1-77584-512-6 |page=192 }}</ref>
<ref name="Drewes and Stoelting 2004">{{cite journal |last1=Drewes |first1=R. C. |last2=Stoelting |first2=R. E. |title=The California Academy of Sciences Gulf of Guinea expedition (2001) II. Additions and corrections to our knowledge of the endemic amphibians of São Tomé́ and Príncipe |journal=Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences |date=2004 |volume=55 |issue=31 |pages=573–587 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40740745#page/117/mode/1up }}</ref>
<ref name="Drewes and Wilkinson 2004">{{cite journal |last1=Drewes |first1=R. C. |last2=Wilkinson |first2=J. A. |title=The California Academy of Sciences Gulf of Guinea expedition (2001) I. The taxonomic status of the genus ''Nesionixalus'' with comments on the genus ''Hyperolius'' |journal=Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences |date=2004 |volume=55 |issue=20 |pages=395–407 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40690277#page/143/mode/1up }}</ref>
<ref name=Frost>{{cite web |url=https://amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org/Amphibia/Anura/Hyperoliidae/Hyperoliinae/Hyperolius/Hyperolius-thomensis |title=''Hyperolius thomensis'' Bocage, 1886 |author=Frost, Darrel R. |year=2021 |work=Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1 |publisher=American Museum of Natural History |doi=10.5531/db.vz.0001 |access-date=9 August 2021}}</ref> }}
==Further reading== *Bocage, 1866 ''[https://archive.org/details/jornaldesciencia11acad Reptiles et bataciens nouveaux de lIe de St. Thomé]''. Jornal de sciencias mathematicas, physicas e naturaes', Lisbon, vol. 11, p. 71-75
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thomensis Category:Frogs of Africa Category:Endemic vertebrates of São Tomé and Príncipe Category:Fauna of São Tomé Island Category:Amphibians described in 1886 Category:Taxa named by José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot