[[5] This species used to constitute the monotypic genus Altigius, but molecular phylogenetic analyses have shown it to be close relative of the then-monotypic Hamptophryne, and the two genera have been merged.[6]]Etymology
The generic name Altigius honors Ronald Altig, specialist in amphibian larvae. The specific name alios is derived from the Latin words ala for "wing" and os for "mouth" and refers to the large, scalloped oral flaps pendant over the mouth of the tadpole.[2]
Description
The species description is based on a single adult male and series of tadpoles, one of them reared past metamorphosis. The adult male measures {{convert|49.5|mm|abbr=on}} in snout–vent length. The head is broad but much narrower than body. The snout is rounded. The eyes are small. Skin is shagreen, and the occipital fold is complete. The fingers and toes have rounded tips and narrow fringes. Webbing is basal between the fingers and more developed between the toes. The dorsum is tan and mottled with dark brown. The venter is black with bluish-white flecks.[2]
The tadpoles grow to {{convert|66|mm|abbr=on}} in length. The body and tail are dark chocolate brown. There is a creamy-tan middorsal stripe running from the snout to the tail. Two large, pendant flaps enclose the mouth dorsally and are presumably used for feeding.[2]
Habitat and conservation
Natural habitats of Hamptophryne alios are tropical moist lowland forests in association with temporary swamps and permanent waterbodies. It is potentially threatened by habitat loss.[1] The Brazilian record is based on two individuals captured near the Madeira River, in area that may become flooded because of development of hydro power.[5]
References
1. ^1 {{IUCN2013.2| id = 57673| title = Altigius alios| assessor = Monteza, J.I.| assessor2 = Angulo, A.| assessor3 = Reichle, S.| last-assessor-amp = yes| year = 2004| downloaded = 22 March 2014}}
2. ^1 {{Cite journal | last1 = De Sá | first1 = R. O. | last2 = Streicher | first2 = J. W. | last3 = Sekonyela | first3 = R. | last4 = Forlani | first4 = M. C. | last5 = Loader | first5 = S. P. | last6 = Greenbaum | first6 = E. | last7 = Richards | first7 = S. | last8 = Haddad | first8 = C. F. B. | last-author-amp=yes | year = 2012 | title = Molecular phylogeny of microhylid frogs (Anura: Microhylidae) with emphasis on relationships among New World genera | journal = BMC Evolutionary Biology | volume = 12 | pages = 241 | doi = 10.1186/1471-2148-12-241 | pmid = 23228209 | pmc = 3561245}}
3. ^1 2 {{cite journal |last1=Simões |first1=P. I. |last2=Kaefer |first2=Í. L. |last3=Lima |first3=A. P. |last-author-amp=yes |year=2011 |title=The first record of the rare microhylid Altigius alios Wild, 1995 in Brazil |journal=Herpetology Notes |volume=4 |pages=141–142 |url=http://www.herpetologynotes.seh-herpetology.org/Volume4_PDFs/Simoes_et_al_Herpetology_Notes_Volume4_pages141-142.pdf }}
4. ^1 2 3 4 {{cite journal |last1=Wild |first1=Erik Russell |title=New genus and species of Amazonian microhylid frog with a phylogenetic analysis of New World genera |journal=Copeia |date=1995 |volume=1995 |issue=4 |pages=837–849 |doi=10.2307/1447032}}