Spencer's Burrowing Frog

Spencer's Burrowing Frog
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Myobatrachidae
Subfamily:	Limnodynastinae
Genus:	Opisthodon
Species:	O. spenceri
Binomial name
Opisthodon spenceri Parker, 1940
Synonyms
Limnodynastes spenceri

Spencer's Burrowing Frog (Opisthodon spenceri, formerly Limnodynastes spenceri) is a species of frog native to western and central Australia.

Physical description

Spencer's Burrowing Frog is very similar in appearance to the only other species within the Opisthodon genus, the Ornate Burrowing Frog (Opisthodon ornatus). It only differs in the presence of webbing in the toes of Spencer's Burrowing Frog, where it is absent in the Ornate Burrowing Frog, and a tendency towards more intense, brown, dorsal colouration.

Spencer's Burrowing Frog is a short, rotund frog with a small head and large eyes. The colour and patterns of the dorsal surface vary greatly. The colour ranges from a dark brown to light grey, with darker blotches. A butterfly shaped, darker patch is often found behind the eyes. The legs and arms are striped or spotted, the tympanum is not visible, and the feet range from partially to fully webbed.

Ecology and behaviour

Spencer's Burrowing Frog is a fossorial frog native to the deserts of western and central Australia. During dry periods, the frog burrows underground to avoid desiccation. After a period of heavy rain, they emerge from the ground to feed and mate, laying their eggs in temporary pools of water. To prevent the ponds from drying before the tadpoles have morphed, development of the tadpole may only take 40 days.

Spencer's Burrowing Frog inhabits sandy creeks and rivers. The males will call near a water source, where the call is a rapidly repeated "hoh-hoh-hoh". Eggs are laid in foam, which breaks down in a day to release the eggs into a layer on the top of the water.

References

• "Frogs Australia Network - Australian Frog Database - Limnodynastes spenceri - Desert Burrowing Frog". http://frogsaustralia.net.au/frogs/display.cfm?frog_id=42. Retrieved 2007-01-03. 
• Barker, J.; Grigg, G.C. & Tyler, M.J. (1995). A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty & Sons. ISBN 0-949324-61-2.