Biology:Booroolong frog
| Booroolong frog | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hylidae |
| Genus: | Ranoidea |
| Species: | R. booroolongensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Ranoidea booroolongensis (Moore, 1961)
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| Current distribution of the Booroolong frog (in black) compared to the historic distribution (in grey). | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
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The Booroolong frog (Ranoidea booroolongensis) is a species of stream-dwelling frog native to the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales.[1][3]
Description
This frog reaches about 45 mm (1.8 inches) in length. It is normally grey, olive, or brown with pale spots or mottling, normally slightly warty in appearance, and the flanks are grey. It is cream on the ventral surface. The back of the thighs are pale yellow with a few darker spots. A faint stripe runs from the nostril to above the tympanum; this stripe is pale and thin in contrast to the closely related stony creek frog and Lesueur's frog, and can be used to distinguish between the species. The typanum is darker in colour. The armpit is also pale yellow. The toe discs are relatively well developed, but only of a moderate size. The toes are nearly fully webbed.
Behaviour and ecology
This species was once abundant in streams above about 200 m (660 feet), until drastic declines began to occur in the Northern Tablelands in northern New South Wales. Although some declines have occurred in the Central Tablelands and Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, they have not been so severe. Currently in the northern tablelands, it is only found in two streams near Tamworth, as well as near Glen Innes in a private dam. In the central tablelands, it is found along the Abercrombie River, the Turon River, and the Winburndale Creek catchment areas. In the southern tablelands, this species is still found along the Tumut River, Yarrangobilly River, and the upper Murray River catchment areas. It is present at one stream in Victoria. The introduction of fish, such as trout, and the chytrid fungus are believed to be the main causes for decline.
This species is a stream-dwelling frog, occurring in rocky westerly flowing rivers and streams in highland areas. It is normally associated with open woodlands, but is also found in grassland and forest. Males make a quiet "quirk...quirk...quirk" call from beside streams or on bedrock within streams from late winter through to summer. An average of about 1,300 eggs are laid in a single adherent clump, attached to or under rocks, within rock pools, or in still sections of streams. Hatching occurs from four to seven days after laying. Tadpoles are brown with well-developed mouth parts, and reach a maximum of about 58 mm (2.3 inches). Metamorphosis occurs during summer, and tadpole development takes an average of 75 days. Metamorphs from northern areas average about 15 mm (0.59 inches), while those in the south measure about 22 mm (0.87 inches). Metamorph frogs closely resemble the adult.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hero, Jean-Marc; Gillespie, Graeme; Lemckert, Frank; Robertson, Peter; Littlejohn, Murray (2004). "Litoria booroolongensis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T41029A10390615. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41029/10390615. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
- ↑ Moore, John Alexander (1961). "The frogs of eastern New South Wales". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 121: 153–385. http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/handle/2246/1269.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Frost, Darrel R. (2020). "Ranoidea booroolongensis (Moore, 1961)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/Amphibia/Anura/Pelodryadidae/Pelodryadinae/Ranoidea/Ranoidea-booroolongensis. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
- "Booroolong Frog - profile". Department of Environment and Conservation. 1 September 2005. http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10484.
- "Litoria booroolongensis / Booroolong Frog". Amphibian Research Centre. http://frogs.org.au/frogs/species/Litoria/booroolongensis/.
- "Litoria booroolongensis". Frogs Australia Network. 23 February 2005. http://frogsaustralia.net.au/frogs/display.cfm?frog_id=134.
- DEH. "EPBC Nomination: Litoria booroolongensis, Booroolong Frog". Department of Environment and Heritage. http://deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/nominations/pubs/booroolong-frog.pdf.
- Anstis, M. (2002). Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Sydney: Reed New Holland. ISBN 1-876334-63-0.
- Robinson, Martyn (2002). A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia. Sydney: Australian Museum/Reed New Holland. ISBN 1-876334-83-5.
External links
- "Fungal Pandemic wipes out Frogs". Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. 2006. http://www.fnpw.org.au/ForSupporters/PAWS/enews062/FrogWipeOut.htm.
- Speare, Rick; Berger, Lee (26 January 2005), Chytridiomycosis in amphibians in Australia, James Cook University, http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/phtm/PHTM/frogs/chyspec.htm, retrieved 22 January 2020
Wikidata ☰ Q1848426 entry
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