Marbled Frog

Marbled Frog
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Myobatrachidae
Subfamily:	Limnodynastinae
Genus:	Limnodynastes
Species:	L. convexiusculus
Binomial name
Limnodynastes convexiusculus Macleay, 1878

The Marbled Frog or Spotted Marshfrog (Limnodynastes convexiusculus) is a species of ground-dwelling frog native to northern and north-eastern Australia, and southern New Guinea.

Physical description

Adult Marbled Frogs reach about 4.5 centimetres (1.8 in) in length, sometimes larger. Toes are long and unwebbed. Grey to light brown on back with numerous prominent darker blotches. The belly is white. Males have a yellowish throat and numerous small sharp black spines on their backs. When disturbed their skin excretes large amounts of mucous.

Ecology and behaviour

The Marbled Frog tends to be solitary inhabiting thick ground vegetation and is more often heard than seen. Males often call from hidden sites, usually partly submerged beneath vegetation. Its call has been described as "a rapid series of uk uk uks". Eggs are laid in a floating foam nest under vegetation and are small and brown. Tadpoles reach 7 centimetres (2.8 in) in length.

The Marbled Frog inhabits waterholes and pools in open grassland and woodland.

References

• Tyler, Michael J. (1992). Encyclopedia of Australian Animals: Frogs. Pymble, Australia: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 978-0-207-15996-1. 
• Ryan, Michelle; Burwell, Chris (2000). Wildlife of Tropical North Queensland: Cooktown to Mackay. Brisbane: Queensland Museum. ISBN 0-7242-9349-3. 
• "Amphibian Species of the World - Limnodynastes convexiusculus (Macleay, 1878)". http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/references.php?id=16055. Retrieved 2006-11-26.