Anstisia

Anstisia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Myobatrachidae
Subfamily: Myobatrachinae
Genus: Anstisia
Webster and Bool, 2022
Species

See text

Anstisia is a genus of frogs in the family Myobatrachidae. These frogs are endemic to southern Western Australia.[1]

Prior to 2022, these species were classified in the genus Geocrinia. However, a study split four Geocrinia species into their own genus, noting major phylogenetic divergence and striking differences in life history and larval morphology between two groups within the genus. This new genus was named Anstisia in honor of Australian herpetologist Marion Anstis.[1][2][3]

The major differences in life history between Anstisia and Geocrinia have long been noted, even before it was split as a distinct genus. Members of Anstisia have entirely terrestrial tadpoles that are nourished by yolk until metamorphosis, while members of Geocrinia have land-developing embryos that develop into aquatic tadpoles.[2]

Anstisia alba is considered critically endangered, due to habitat loss from expansion of the wine industry in Western Australia.

  1. ^ a b "Anstisia Webster and Bool, 2022 | Amphibian Species of the World". amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
  2. ^ a b Webster, Grant N.; Bool, Ian (2022-06-14). "A new genus for four myobatrachid frogs from the South Western Australian Ecoregion". Zootaxa. 5154 (2): 127–151. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5154.2.2. ISSN 1175-5334.
  3. ^ "Frogs that lay eggs on land – new WA genus named after teacher whose lab was a campervan". the Guardian. 2022-06-26. Retrieved 2022-08-02.