Rabbs' Fringe-limbed Treefrog

Rabbs' Fringe-limbed Treefrog
Scientific Classification
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Amphibia
Order	Anura
Family	Hylidae
Genus	Ecnomiohyla
Species	E. rabborum
Conservation Status
Critically Endangered

This adult male in the Atlanta Botanical Garden (named Toughie by his handlers) was the last known surviving member of its species until his death on September 26, 2016.

Ecnomiohyla rabborum, commonly known as Rabbs' Fringe-Limbed Treefrog, is a critically endangered species of frog in the family Hylidae; mounting evidence suggests that E. rabborum is probably extinct. They were relatively large frogs that inhabited the forest canopies of central Panama. Like other members of the genus Ecnomiohyla, they were capable of gliding by spreading their enormous and fully webbed hands and feet during descent. The males of the species were highly territorial and would guard water-filled tree holes used for breeding. They were also the ones responsible for guarding and caring for the young, including providing food. They were the only known species of frog where the tadpoles derived nutrition by feeding on the skin cells of their fathers.

The species was discovered in 2005 and formally described in 2008 by a team of herpetologists led by Joseph R. Mendelson III. It was named in honor of the conservationists and herpetologists George B. Rabb and Mary S. Rabb. It was officially listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) by 2009. It is believed that the species became extinct in the wild mainly because of an epidemic of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in its native range. Despite the efforts of several conservation teams, captive breeding programs all failed. The last known female of the species died in 2009. The species was then survived by two other individuals, both males. On February 17, 2012, one of the two was euthanized at Zoo Atlanta in Georgia due to failing health. The last known surviving member of the species, an adult male named Toughie, resided at the Atlanta Botanical Garden until his death on September 26, 2016.

References

"Rabbs' Fringe-limbed Treefrog Declared Extinct." Rabbs' Fringe-limbed Treefrog Declared Extinct. RiVista, n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2016. <http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Rabbs-Fringe-limbed-Treefrog-Declared-Extinct-trending/>.

External links

Wikispecies has information related to: Rabbs' Fringe-limbed Treefrog

• Rabbs' fringe-limbed treefrog (Ecnomiohyla rabborum) at ARKive
• Rabbs' fringe-limbed treefrog at Zoo Atlanta
• Video of Rabbs' fringe-limbed treefrog exhibit by Zoo Atlanta
• Video of the last known Rabbs' fringe-limbed treefrog by the Atlanta Botanical Garden