''Neobatrachus'' is a genus of burrowing ground frogs native to Australia. They occur in every state except
Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
, however this genus is absent from the far north of Australia and most of
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
, establishe ...
. Most of the species in this genus occur in south-western
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 ...
. They are often found in arid areas and burrow underground to avoid dehydration. They are typically found in temporary claypan and flooded grassland habitats.
These burrowing frogs have special genetic characteristics that help them to live in extreme environments. They stand out because some species are tetraploids instead of diploids.
All species have a similar body shape, they are rounded and squat with large eyes and the pupils constrict vertically. The limbs are short and the hands are free from webbing while the feet are partially webbed. Males lack a vocal sac. Approximately 1000 eggs are laid in a chain in still water.
The reproductive cycle is dependent on sufficient rainfall, an unpredictable event in the arid and semiarid regions of Australia. When a period of rain creates pools of water they emerge from their burrow to meet in large numbers. The breeding activity becomes frantic as the males seek out an opportunity, several individuals may sometimes be seen clambering over each other on a single female. ''Neobatrachus'' tadpoles may feed on the weaker individuals in a pool as available food is exhausted or water evaporates.
The genus was first described by
Wilhelm Peters
Wilhelm Karl Hartwich (or Hartwig) Peters (22 April 1815 in Koldenbüttel – 20 April 1883) was a German naturalist and explorer.
He was assistant to the anatomist Johannes Peter Müller and later became curator of the Berlin Zoological Muse ...
in 1863.
[Neobatrachus Peters, W. 1863. Übersicht der von Hrn. Richard Schomburgk an das zoologische Museum eingesandten Amphibien, aus Buchsfelde bei Adelaide in ''Südaustralien. Monatsberichte der Königlichen Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin'' 1863: 228-236 864 on title page 34]
A taxonomic revision of the genus was published in 2010, providing clarification to the names of several species and investigating the identity of the specimen examined for the author's earlier description of ''
Neobatrachus albipes''.
A genus name, ''Neoruinosus'' Wells and Wellington, 1985, erected to separate ''Neobatrachus sudelli'' as a monophyletic species or species group was placed in synonymy in the 2010 revision.
Species
References
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2693003
Amphibian genera
Taxa named by Wilhelm Peters