Zweifel's frog

Zweifel's frog (Lithobates zweifeli) is an amphibian species endemic in the family Ranidae, endemic to Mexico. It was described in 1984 and is primarily found in tropical seasonal forests at low elevations.^[3]

Zweifel's frog
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Ranidae
Genus:	Lithobates
Species:	L. zweifeli
Binomial name
Lithobates zweifeli (Hillis, J. Frost & Webb, 1984)
Synonyms[2]
Rana zweifeli Hillis, J. Frost & Webb, 1984

Etymology

The specific name, zweifeli, honors American herpetologist Richard G. Zweifel.^[2][4]

Habitat

Lithobates zweifeli inhabits tropical and subtropical forests at low elevations across southern Mexico, including the Balsas Depression and surrounding states such as Guerrero, Morelos, Michoacán, Puebla, México, Oaxaca, Jalisco, and Colima. It is typically found near permanent and temporary water bodies including streams, rivers, and ponds, which serve as breeding habitats.^[1][5]

Conservation status

The species is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. However, local threats remain, particularly from habitat disturbance and the drying of aquatic systems necessary for breeding^[1]

Taxonomy and Distribution

Lithobates zweifeli was formally described by Hillis, Frost, and Webb in 1984. The holotype locality is 12 km east of Teloloapan, Guerrero, Mexico. Its distribution is restricted to Mexico and it is regarded as endemic to the region. ^[6]