Ranoidea vagitus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Family: | Hylidae |
Genus: | Ranoidea |
Species: | R. vagitus |
Binomial name | |
Ranoidea vagitus Tyler, Davies & Martin, 1981 | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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Ranoidea vagitus, the wailing frog, is a species of tree frog occupying the arid and monsoonal Kimberley (Western Australia) region. It is a ground dweller, which evades dry periods by burrowing and hibernating - emerging to breed during floods.
It was first described as Cyclorana vagitus in 1981 by Tyler, Davies and Martin. [3] [4] It was transferred to the genus Ranoidea in 2016 by Dubois and Frétey. [2] [5]
The back of the frog is brown or grey with darker brown or green markings, underside is white with a granular appearance. The toes are slightly webbed and a dark line extends from the leg to snout. A lighter stripe runs down the back. The call is a repeated wailing or cry. It has a shorter cry and is larger than Cyclorana cultripes.
R. vagitus is a terrestrial frog and lacks the arboreal appendages of the similar genus Litoria. Like many Australian frogs, it can burrow and enter a state of aestivation. By hibernating it can avoid the arid conditions of the Kimberley region and emerge to take advantage of the intermittent flooding of its open grassland habitat.
The range of the species is in the far north of Western Australia, overlapping the Northern Territory, [3] in a tropical monsoon climate. It has a description based on the two known locations, which occur in open grassland, in a range of intermittent water sources. It lives from sea level to an altitude of 900 m. [6] Based on the identified groups, population is estimated at 10 000 to 50 000. [6] The males commence breeding by crying at floodways - this is frequently heard - with females responding by releasing up to 1000 eggs during a wet season. The tadpoles develop rapidly before evaporation of the floodwaters. [6]
No threats have been identified and the species is located within a protected area. The species is given a least concern LC status by the IUCN. The species is presumed to be secure due to high populations and wide dispersal in its range. No study of any trends of these has been undertaken. [6]
Litoria is a genus of hylid tree frogs, sometimes collectively referred to as Australasian treefrogs.
The magnificent tree frog, also known as the splendid tree frog, is a species of tree frog first described in 1977. It has a limited range, only occurring on the north-western coast of Australia in the Northern Territory and the Kimberley, Western Australia. It has a similar appearance to, and can be confused with, the closely related White's tree frog.
The striped burrowing frog is a species of burrowing frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae of the family Hylidae. It occurs throughout much of Australia, from northern New South Wales, through eastern and northern Queensland and into eastern Northern Territory. This species was once included in the genus Litoria or Cyclorana.
Ranoidea australis, commonly known as the giant frog, northern snapping frog, or round frog, is a burrowing species of frog native to Australia. It occurs from western Queensland through to northern Western Australia.
Amphibians of Australia are limited to members of the order Anura, commonly known as frogs. All Australian frogs are in the suborder Neobatrachia, also known as the modern frogs, which make up the largest proportion of extant frog species. About 230 of the 5,280 species of frog are native to Australia with 93% of them endemic. Compared with other continents, species diversity is low, and may be related to the climate of most of the Australian continent. There are two known invasive amphibians, the cane toad and the smooth newt.
The orange-thighed frog is a species of tree frog native to a small area of tropical northern Queensland, Australia. It has been observed between 100 and 1500 meters above sea level. It is a green frog with distinctly orange eyes, and is very similar in appearance to the red-eyed tree frog.
The rough frog, also known as the woodland water-holding frog, warty water-holding frog, and red-backed cyclorana, is a species of treefrog native to northern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland, 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 hidden-ear frog is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland and intermittent freshwater marshes. It is green or dull brown coloured.
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.
Ranoidea longipes, the long-footed frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae endemic to Australia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland and intermittent freshwater marshes.
Main's frog is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is endemic to western and central Australia. The frog is named after Professor Bert Main of the University of Western Australia, a pioneer of southern Western Australia frogs.
The small frog is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is endemic to Australia, where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland and intermittent freshwater marshes.
The Cape Melville tree frog is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is endemic to Australia, and has been found only in Queensland, in Cape Melville National Park. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rivers.
"Litoria" castanea, also known as the yellow-spotted tree frog, New England swamp frog, tablelands bell frog, or yellow-spotted bell frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is a critically endangered species of frog that is endemic to south-eastern Australia.
The cave-dwelling frog is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is endemic to Australia where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, rivers, rocky areas, inland karsts, and caves.
Copland's rock frog or the saxicoline tree frog is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is endemic to Australia, in a range extending from the Kimberley region of Western Australia to Arnhem Land and a record in the north of Queensland. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, intermittent rivers, and rocky areas.
The northern burrowing frog is a species of frog in the family Limnodynastidae. It is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, and intermittent freshwater marshes.
Ranoidea is a genus of frogs in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. They are found in Australia, New Guinea, and two nearby groups of islands: the Maluku Islands, and the Louisiade Archipelago. The circumscription of this taxon is still controversial.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)