Long-thumbed frog | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Family: | Limnodynastidae |
Genus: | Limnodynastes |
Species: | L. fletcheri |
Binomial name | |
Limnodynastes fletcheri Boulenger, 1888 | |
Synonyms | |
List
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The long-thumbed frog, Fletcher's frog or barking marsh frog (Limnodynastes fletcheri) is a species of non-burrowing ground frog native to south-eastern Australia. The species belongs to the genus Limnodynastes. The twelve species in the genus are characterised by a lack of toe pads. Following phylogenetic analysis, the species was placed in L. peronii clade group alongside L. depressus , L. tasmaniensis and L. peronii . [2]
The long-thumbed frog is a medium-sized frog reaching about 50 mm in length. It is grey or brown with abnormal shaped darker patches or irregular spots, and in most individuals a butterfly-shaped patch between the eyes. [3] There is normally a red or purplish patch above the eye. It is similar in many respects to L. tasmaniensis from which it can be most reliably distinguished by its call. [3] The belly is white. The tympanum is indistinct.
This species inhabits drier areas west of the ranges of New South Wales as well as southern Queensland, northern Victoria and eastern South Australia. It is associated with rivers, dams and creeks (often temporary) in woodland and grassland. [3] During drier conditions they shelter under rocks, in cracked mud and yabby burrows.
Males make a dog-like "rok" or "whrup" call from grassy areas around the edge of water bodies, after rain or when water levels are high, during spring to autumn. [3] Breeding occurs mostly after heavy rain and eggs are laid in a floating foamy mass, often attached to vegetation. Eggs and tadpoles are generally found in slow moving or still waters [3] Tadpoles can reach up to 69 mm and as an opportunistic breeder metamorphosis can occur at any time of the year. The tadpoles are very similar to Limnodynastes tasmaniensis and cannot be readily distinguished until metamorphosis.
In Australia, this species may be kept in captivity with a license. [4]
Although the species population is considered 'Least Concern' under the IUCN Red List and stable, L. fletcheri threatened by habitat loss. The species is also becoming increasingly threatened by altered flow regimes across Australia's rivers. There is a positive relationship between flooding frequency and the breeding activity for L. fletcheri [5] [6] Flooding between September and December is required to maximise breeding responses from the species, this will increase the likelihood of species persistence and diversity. [6] Therefore, the species may be negatively affected by regulatory activities such as damming and would respond positively to environmental flow management [5]
Corroboree frogs comprise two species of frog native to the Southern Tablelands of Australia. Both species are small, poisonous ground-dwelling frogs. The two species are the southern corroboree frog and the northern corroboree frog. They are unique among frogs in that they produce their own poison rather than obtain it from their food source as is the case in every other poisonous frog species.
Limnodynastes dumerilii is a frog species from the family Limnodynastidae. The informal names for the species and its subspecies include eastern or southern banjo frog, and bull frog. The frog is also called the pobblebonk after its distinctive "bonk" call, which is likened to a banjo string being plucked. There are five subspecies of L. dumerilii, each with different skin coloration. The species is native to eastern Australia. There has been one occurrence in New Zealand, when tadpoles of the species were found in 1999 and destroyed.
The pickerel frog is a small North American frog, characterized by the appearance of seemingly "hand-drawn" squares on its dorsal surface.
The foothill yellow-legged frog is a small-sized frog from the genus Rana in the family Ranidae. This species was historically found in the Coast Ranges from northern Oregon, through California, and into Baja California, Mexico as well as in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Range in California. The foothill yellow-legged frog is a Federal Species of Concern and California State Endangered. A federal rule to list four out of six extant distinct population segments (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act was proposed in December 2021.
The spotted grass frog or spotted marsh frog is a terrestrial frog native to Australia. It is distributed throughout all of New South Wales and Victoria, eastern South Australia, the majority of Queensland, and eastern Tasmania. It is also naturalised in Western Australia, having been unintentionally introduced at Kununurra in the 1970s, apparently during the relocation of several hundred transportable homes from Adelaide.
The striped marsh frog or brown-striped frog is a predominantly aquatic frog native to coastal Eastern Australia. It is a common species in urban habitats.
Fletcher's frog, commonly known as the sandpaper frog or black-soled frog, is a species of nocturnal, terrestrial frog native to eastern Australia. It is primarily found in wet sclerophyll forests along mountain ranges and the coast.
The Bibron's toadlet or brown toadlet is a species of Australian ground-dwelling frog that, although having declined over much of its range, is widespread through most of New South Wales, Victoria, south-eastern Queensland, and eastern South Australia, including Kangaroo Island. Bibron's toadlet settles in a wide variety of habitats within these region but they mainly reside in dry forests, woodland, shrubland, grassland, coastal swamps, heathland, and sub-alpine areas. They deposit their eggs in leaf litters during the flooding season, which is essential for the proper development of the egg. This species has high sexual dimorphism within the species and utilizes chemosignals to attract potential mates.
The Italian agile frog, also known as Lataste's frog, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. The species is native to southern Europe, primarily found in the Po River Basin of Italy. It is one of the most endangered amphibian species in Europe, with its populations declining sharply in recent years, and has been the focus of multiple conservation plans.
The ornate burrowing frog is a species of ground frog native to Australia. It was moved to the genus Opisthodon in 2006, following a major revision of amphibians, and is now classified in the genus Platyplectrum.
The northern red-legged frog is a species of amphibian whose range is the coastal region stretching from southwest British Columbia to southern Mendocino County in Northern California, and is protected in Oregon and California. As a member of the genus Rana, this species is considered a true frog, with characteristic smooth skin and a narrow waist. This frog requires still waters for breeding, and is rarely found at any great distance from its breeding ponds or marshes.
The marbled frog or marbled marsh frog is a species of ground-dwelling frog native to northern and north-eastern Australia, and southern New Guinea in both Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Spencer's burrowing frog is a species of frog native to western and central Australia.
Ranoidea platycephala, is a species of frog that is common in most Australian states and territories and is commonly referred to as the water-holding frog but has also been referred to as the eastern water-holding frog, and the common water holding frog. This species belongs to the Pelodryadinae subfamily of the Hylidae family but differs from most other members of this subfamily as it is a ground dweller and undertakes aestivation.
The knife-footed frog is a species of burrowing frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Australia, where it is found over a wide area in the north of the continent.
The giant banjo frog, giant pobblebonk frog, giant bullfrog, or great bullfrog is a species of frog, endemic to Australia, in the family Limnodynastidae. Fry was the first to recognise the species of Giant Banjo Frog as a distinct subspecies of Banjo Frog, differing from the similar Southern or Eastern Banjo Frogs which occupied most of eastern Australia.
Scaphiophryne marmorata is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is commonly known as the green burrowing frog and the marbled rain frog. It is endemic to Madagascar. It is classified as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN as it is threatened by habitat loss.
The Amphibians of Western Australia are represented by two families of frogs. Of the 78 species found, most within the southwest, 38 are unique to the state. 15 of the 30 genera of Australian frogs occur; from arid regions and coastlines to permanent wetlands.
Platyplectrum is a genus of ground-dwelling frog in the family Limnodynastidae. Species in this genus are found in Australia, New Guinea, and on the Aru Islands. They are medium-sized frogs and the dorsal skin has a sandpaper-like texture.
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