Biology:Natalobatrachus bonebergi

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Short description: Species of amphibian

Natalobatrachus bonebergi
Natalobatrachus bonebergi02.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Pyxicephalidae
Subfamily: Cacosterninae
Genus: Natalobatrachus
Methuen & Hewitt, 1912
Species:
N. bonebergi
Binomial name
Natalobatrachus bonebergi
Methuen & Hewitt, 1912

Natal diving frog (Natalobatrachus bonebergi), also known as the Natal diving frog, Boneberg's frog, or Kloof frog [2]), is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae.[3] It is the only species within the monotypic genus Natalobatrachus.[4] It is endemic to South Africa.[3] Its natural habitats are temperate forests and rivers and it is threatened by habitat loss.

This is a small- to medium-sized frog, females reaching 37 mm and males 25 mm in length.[5]

Distribution and habitat

The frog's habitat is restricted to south eastern South Africa, where it ranges from the Dwesa Nature Reserve in the Eastern Cape to Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve and other reserves in south and central KwaZulu-Natal province,[5] only found below 900 m above sea level. The habitat of the frog consists of ground-coastal bush and gallery bush: especially afforestation strips along rivers.

Reproduction

Mating occurs in streams and eggs are attached to branches hanging over the water, in egg clutches that looks like bales of foam. After hatching, the tadpoles fall down into the water where they develop further into small frogs.

Threatened status

Natalobatrachus bonebergi is a rare and endangered species.[1] Deterioration of reproduction water and pollution of its habitat impact negatively on its survival rate. In addition, large parts of its range made way for sugarcane plantations, forestry and other forms of cultivation. The frog can not survive in open areas, it needs moist places around rivers or coastal areas.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group.; South African Frog Re-assessment Group (2016). "Natalobatrachus bonebergi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T58076A77159820. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T58076A77159820.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/58076/77159820. Retrieved 12 November 2021. 
  2. Marais, J. Checklist: Southern African Frogs
  3. 3.0 3.1 Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Natalobatrachus bonebergi Hewitt and Methuen, 1912". 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/Pyxicephalidae/Cacosterninae/Natalobatrachus/Natalobatrachus-bonebergi. 
  4. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Natalobatrachus Hewitt and Methuen, 1912". 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/Pyxicephalidae/Cacosterninae/Natalobatrachus. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 Amphibia Web. "Natalobatrachus bonebergi". http://amphibiaweb.org/species/3736. 


Wikidata ☰ Q2247403 entry