Myobatrachus

Myobatrachus is a genus of frogs found in Western Australia. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species, Myobatrachus gouldii, also known as the turtle frog. It has a small head, short limbs, and a round body, up to 45 millimetres (1.8 in) long.[2]

Turtle frog
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Myobatrachidae
Genus: Myobatrachus
Schlegel in J. E. Gray, 1841 or 1850
Species:
M. gouldii
Binomial name
Myobatrachus gouldii
(Gray, 1841)
Range of turtle frog

Habitat

The turtle frog is found in between Geraldton and Fitzgerald River in the Perth region, Western Australia.[3] This area is mainly semi-arid, so the frogs have adapted to suit this region. They have developed short muscular limbs to help them dig into the sand but, unlike most frogs, they dig forward, like a turtle. They feed on termites so the adaptation of the muscular limbs is useful when trying to penetrate a termite mound. They do not need to live near standing pools of water, as they undergo the entire metamorphosis stage within their eggs. Their closest relatives, among the few who share most of the turtle frogs traits, are sandhill frogs and forest toadlets.

Mating

Mating generally occurs recently after it has rained, their call is typically heard during July. When a pair of turtle frogs select each other as mates, they retire to the base of their burrow. Burrows may be as much as 1.3 metres (4 ft 3 in) deep. Breeding takes place within the burrow several months later. When the females lay eggs, they lay up to 50, and each can measure 7.5 millimetres (0.30 in) in diameter.

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Myobatrachus gouldii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T41171A78444058. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T41171A78444058.en. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  2. "Australian Frog Database: Myobatrachus gouldii". Frogs Australia Network. 23 February 2005.
  3. "FrogWatch :: Turtle Frog". Western Australia Museum. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.