hochstetteri

Hochstetteri is a Latinized species epithet used in the binomial names of several organisms, named in honor of the 19th-century geologist Ferdinand von Hochstetter. The most widely known usage in contemporary biology is Leiopelma hochstetteri, Hochstetter’s frog, a small, primitive frog native to New Zealand.

Leiopelma hochstetteri belongs to the family Leiopelmatidae and is considered one of the more archaic living frogs. It is a small species, typically measuring a few centimeters in length, with a stout body and a generally brown to olive coloration that helps it blend with leaf litter and rocky forest floor. The species lacks many features typical of more derived frogs, reflecting its ancient lineage.

Distribution and habitat are restricted to the western parts of the North Island of New Zealand. Hochstetter’s frog occupies moist, cool habitats such as forested areas, rock-strewn streams, and damp microhabitats under stones and logs. It often favours shaded, damp environments that maintain high humidity.

Biology and reproduction are notable for direct development: there is no free-living tadpole stage. Eggs are laid in moist, concealed spots, often under rocks or within leaf litter, and develop directly into miniature froglets. Male Hochstetter’s frogs participate in parental care, guarding the eggs until they hatch.

Conservation concerns include habitat degradation, disease (notably chytrid fungus), and climate change, which together threaten small, fragmented populations. In New Zealand, the species is the focus of monitoring and habitat-protection efforts aimed at preserving this ancient lineage.