Wrinkled toadlet

The wrinkled toadlet (Uperoleia rugosa) is a species of small, ground-dwelling frog in the family Myobatrachidae It is endemic to Australia. It is also commonly called the small-headed toadlet, red-groined toadlet or the chubby gungan.

Wrinkled toadlet

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Myobatrachidae
Genus: Uperoleia
Species:
U. rugosa
Binomial name
Uperoleia rugosa
Andersson, 1916
Synonyms
  • Uperoleia capitulata Davies, McDonald, & Corben, 1986

Description
Thigh colouration of the Wrinkled Toadlet

The wrinkled toadlet is a small frog, which varies largely in size. It is smaller on the coast of eastern Australia, and larger inland, ranging from 1.8 to 3.2 cm (0.71 to 1.26 in). The dorsal surface is warty, and grey to brown, with dark markings. The ventral surface is smooth and grey. The parotoid glands and inguinal glands are large in comparison to the size of the frog, and yellowish in colour. Behind each knee, and in the groin are bright orange.

The tadpoles hatch mostly black, with a distinct gold patch behind each eye. As development continues, the gold pigment spreads, until the tadpole is mottled grey and gold.

The wrinkled toadlet has mostly unwebbed hands and feet, and the tympanum is not visible.

Ecology and behavior

The wrinkled toadlet inhabits subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland and forests, and intermittent freshwater marshes. The males call from within flooded grasslands any time of the year, except winter. The male's call is a high pitched click. Amplexus takes place within the flooded grassland. The male fertilizes each egg individually. The female then dives under water and attaches it to a submerged object. Each egg is attached to a different object.

Notes
  1. Jean-Marc Hero; John Clarke & Ed Meyer (2004). "Uperoleia rugosa". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2004: e.T41200A10410401. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T41200A10410401.en. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
gollark: Possibly. It seems unlikely that they would say it if it wasn't somewhat necessary, it makes it significantly less attractive.
gollark: It does, it needs to be kept at -70 degrees or something.
gollark: Also, storage requirements, and it needs to actually be injected safely/correctly.
gollark: Apparently it needs to be stored at very low temperatures, which is likely to cause issues with distributing it.
gollark: No, I mean presumably nature would have come up with very infectious retroviruses at some point.

References


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