Ascaphus (Noun)
Meaning
Type genus of the Ascaphidae; in some classifications included in the family Leiopelmatidae.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Ascaphus is a monotypic genus containing the single species A. truei, which belongs to the family Ascaphidae.
- The Ascaphidae consists of only two living genera, Ascaphus and Lialias, with Leiopelma sometimes being the only genus in Leiopelmatidae.
- Some classification schemes, however, consider Ascaphus as a part of the family Leiopelmatidae instead of Ascaphidae.
- Ascaphus truei has several characteristics that make it suitable for study in its natural environment and laboratory settings.
- Due to its classification and natural habitat, the conservation status of Ascaphus is often intertwined with changes in its native environment.