''Odorrana swinhoana'' is a species of

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

in the family Ranidae. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

and widely distributed in hilly areas below . It is named for Robert Swinhoe, a British naturalist and diplomat. Its common names include Swinhoe's brown frog, Bangkimtsing frog, brown-backed odorous frog, Taiwan odorous frog, and Taiwan sucker frog.

Description

''Odorrana swinhoana'' are medium to large-sized frogs, reaching a maximum snout-vent length of . They can live up to 11 years. Sizes vary by location; males from a low-lying location measured on average in snout–vent length, respectively, and from a highland location , respectively. The dorsum is bright green and the flanks are brown or green, broken up by white or dark mottling. The dorsal skin is finely pebbled. The venter is white. The finger tips bear well developed discs. The toes have well developed webbing. 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 ...

s are adapted to running water and have a ventral sucking disc. The back is green.

Habitat and conservation

''Odorrana swinhoana'' occur in hill streams in broadleaf forests. They forage on both terrestrial and aquatic prey, primarily on insects and arachnids, but also gastropods, crustaceans, and chilopods. Breeding takes place in small mountainous, shady, rocky creeks. Males call day and night, usually hidden in crevices among the rocks. The eggs are attached to rocks under the water. It is a common species that is not facing serious threats, although agriculture and infrastructure development represent some threats. It is present in a number of protected areas.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1038816 swinhoana Endemic fauna of Taiwan Amphibians of Taiwan Amphibians described in 1903 Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger Taxonomy articles created by Polbot