- Australian Wood Frog
Taxobox
name = Australian Wood Frog
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = stable
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Amphibia
ordo =Anura
familia =Ranidae
genus = "Hylarana "
species = "H. daemeli"
binomial = "Hylarana daemeli"
binomial_authority = Steindachner,1868 Verify source|date=January 2008
range_
range_map_width = 200px
range_map_caption = Global range (in black).
synonyms = "Rana daemeli" Steindachner, 1868Verify source|date=January 2008The Australian Wood Frog ("Hylarana daemeli"), locally simply known as "the" Wood Frog, is the only species from the family
Ranidae that occurs in Australia. The species is restricted to therainforest of northernQueensland , the eastern border ofArnhem Land , in theNorthern Territory and much ofNew Guinea . Long placed in the "wastebin genus" "Rana", it is now in "Hylarana " together with such species as theCommon Green Frog ofSoutheast Asia .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
true frog s, it has large, protruding eyes, and large, distinct tympanum. The dorsal surface is bronze in colour, withskin fold s 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.Ecology and behaviour
The Australian Wood Frog is a terrestrial frog, spending much of its time amongst 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".
References
* Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is of least concern
External links
* [http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/tbiol/zoology/herp/Ranadaemeli.PDF James Cook University: Rana daemeli] (PDF file)
* [http://www.naturesound.com.au/archives/Sphenophryne%20fryi%20and%20Rana%20daemeli.mp3 Recording of the call of "H. daemeli" by David Stewart ]
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