''Limnodynastes dumerilii'' is a

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely Carnivore, carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order (biology), order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-f ...

species from the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Limnodynastidae Limnodynastidae, commonly known as the Australian ground frogs, is a family of frogs found in Australia, New Guinea, and the Aru Islands. They were formerly considered a subfamily of the Myobatrachidae, the other large radiation of terrestrial fr ...

. The informal names for the species and its subspecies include eastern or southern banjo frog, and bull frog.Waite, Edgar R. (1929): ''The reptiles and amphibians of South Australia.'' Facsimile Edition, issued to commemorate the Second World Congress of Herpetology, Adelaide, South Australia, by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 1993. The frog is also called the pobblebonk after its distinctive "bonk" call, which is likened to a

banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Early forms of the instrument were fashi ...

string being plucked. There are five subspecies of ''L. dumerilii'', each with different skin coloration. The species is native to eastern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. There has been one occurrence in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

, when tadpoles of the species were found in 1999 and destroyed.

Description

Adults are roughly seven to eight centimetres long with dark warty backs, a prominent

tibia The tibia (; ), also known as the shinbone or shankbone, is the larger, stronger, and anterior (frontal) of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates (the other being the fibula, behind and to the outside of the tibia); it connects ...

l gland, fleshy metatarsal

tubercules In anatomy, a tubercle (literally 'small tuber', Latin for 'lump') is any round nodule, small eminence, or warty outgrowth found on external or internal organs of a plant or an animal. In plants A tubercle is generally a wart-like projection ...

and a smooth white or mottled belly. The

tadpole A tadpole is the larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial. Tadpoles have some fish-like features that may not be found i ...

stage is relatively long, lasting up to fifteen months. The species is common. The five subspecies of ''Limnodynastes dumerilii'' are:

Eastern banjo frog, ''Limnodynastes dumerilii dumerilii''

This is the most widespread of the five subspecies. It is mostly associated with the slopes and ranges of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, northern Victoria and the Murray River into

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

. This subspecies normally inhabits woodland, heathland and farmland. Breeding takes place in streams, ponds and dams. Males of this subspecies have the most characteristic banjo-like "bonk" of all the subspecies. They are distinguished from other subspecies by more orange present on the flank and orange raised stripe present from the eye to the shoulder. The subspecies is normally one solid colour on the dorsal surface.

Eastern banjo frog, ''Limnodynastes dumerilii grayi''

This subspecies occurs along the coast of New South Wales, south to Jervis Bay. It inhabits coastal swamps, dams, ponds associated with forest and heathland. This species does not breed in flowing water, which helps with distinguishing it from ''L. d. dumerilii'' in places where both occur. This is the most variegated of the subspecies, often with patches or blotches of a different colour on the dorsal surface. The call of this species sounds more like a "tok", similar but louder than the striped marsh frog.

Snowy Mountains banjo frog, ''Limnodynastes dumerilii fryi''

This is the most restricted of the subspecies. It is only found in the

Snowy Mountains The Snowy Mountains, known informally as "The Snowies", is an IBRA subregion in southern New South Wales, Australia, and is the tallest mountain range in mainland Australia, being part of the continent's Great Dividing Range cordillera system ...

area of south-eastern New South Wales. Males call from ponds or pools of streams in spring and summer. Due to its restricted range it is unlikely to be confused with other subspecies, however it is pale on the dorsal surface with fairly indistinct patches or variegations.

Southern banjo frog, ''Limnodynastes dumerilii insularis''

This subspecies occurs south of Jervis Bay, along the south coast of New South Wales, in eastern Victoria and throughout Tasmania. It is characterised and distinguished by blue coloration present on the flank. There is often a pale mid-dorsal stripe. Males call from a concealed position in water during spring, summer and autumn.

Southern banjo frog, ''Limnodynastes dumerilii variegata''

This subspecies is very similar to ''Limnodynastes dumerilii insularis''. This subspecies occurs in western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. It is chiefly distinguished by range.

Ecology and behaviour

''Limnodynastes dumerilii'' is a burrowing frog. During dry times, and often just during the day, they will burrow underground. They will often be seen in large numbers after rain, and under the right conditions mass spawning can occur over just a few days. They have been known to call while underground, and can do so at any time of the year after rain. The Eastern banjo frog was the first of the species to have its reference genome sequenced, finding a compact (for an amphibian) 2.38 Gb genome and 24,548 protein-coding genes.

Related species

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

the western banjo frog, ''

Limnodynastes dorsalis ''The western banjo frog (Limnodynastes dorsalis)'' is a species of frog from the family Limnodynastidae. The informal names for this species are pobblebonk, sand frog and bullfrog. It is one of the endemic amphibians of Western Australia. A lar ...

'', is common around

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

. It also has a musical, resonant "plonk" call and is also called a pobblebonk. In

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, the scarlet-sided pobblebonk, ''

Limnodynastes terraereginae The Northern banjo frog (''Limnodynastes terraereginae'') is a species of ground-dwelling burrowing frogs native to eastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Description It is a large species of frog reaching 75 mm in ...

'', is a small fat frog with distinctive orange or red irregular markings. In Western

, the giant banjo frog, ''

Limnodynastes interioris The giant banjo frog, giant pobblebonk frog, giant bullfrog, or great bullfrog (''Limnodynastes interioris'') is a species of frog, endemic to Australia, in the family Limnodynastidae. Fry was the first to recognise the species of Giant Banjo Fro ...

'', is a similar species that tends to inhabit more arid areas than ''Limnodynastes dumerilii''.

References

External links

Museum of Victoria facts sheet on Eastern Pobblebonk

Frogs of Australia

Frogs Australia Network
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2701701 Limnodynastes Frogs of Australia Amphibians of Queensland Amphibians of New South Wales Amphibians of the Australian Capital Territory Amphibians of Victoria (Australia) Amphibians of South Australia Amphibians of Tasmania Endemic fauna of Australia Amphibians described in 1863 Taxa named by Wilhelm Peters