Australian Wood Frog
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| Rana daemeli Steindachner, 1868 |
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 Distribution of Rana daemeli (in black).
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The Australian Wood Frog (Rana daemeli), also commonly known as the Wood Frog, is the only species from the family Ranidae that occurs in Australia. The species is restricted to the rainforest of northern Queensland, the eastern border of Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory and much of New Guinea.
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[edit] Physical description
The Australian Wood Frog is an elegant frog, with an elongated head and body, with the head forming a narrow triangle at the snout. Common to the Rana genus, it has large, protruding eyes, and large, distinct tympanum. The dorsal surface is bronze in colour, with skin folds running from the eye to the base of the leg. A dark strip begins at the nostril, runs through the eye and over the tympanum, and a white line is present on the top lip. Males are 43–58 millimetres in length, and the females 58–81 millimetres in length.
[edit] Ecology and behaviour
The Australian Wood Frog is a terrestrial frog, spending much of its time amognst dense vegetation close to a water source, usually in or near rainforests. The Australian Wood Frog is unique among the Australian frogs, for its vocal sac is not under the jaw, but on either side of the head. Its call is a series of low "quacks".
[edit] References
- Hero et al (2004). Rana daemeli. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is of least concern
