''Rana longicrus'', also known as the Taipa frog or long-legged brown frog, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is distributed to northern and central Taiwan.

Description

''Rana longicrus'' is a slender-bodied frog with relatively long legs. Males measure and females in snout–vent length.

Reproduction

The breeding season in Aoti, northern Taiwan, is from November to March. The smallest mature male measured SVL and smallest gravid female SVL. Both sexes appear to reach this size by the end of their first year. Peak breeding occurred in December but is probably influenced by rain. Egg clutches of 600-2,000 eggs are laid in water. Metamorphosis occurs after about two months. However, survival to metamorphosis is low because of disturbance by human activities (plowing of ricefields) and by the desiccation.

Diet

''Rana longicrus'' feed primarily on arachnids and insect larvae and adults (often ants or beetles). In winter when they spend more time near water also crustaceans are eaten.

Habitat and conservation

''Rana longicrus'' occurs in

subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...

broad-leaf forests as well as cultivated fields below elevation. Breeding takes place in marshes, pools, and ponds. It is threatened by habitat loss, in particular due to infrastructure development, but also pollution. It is currently protected in the Yangmingshan National Park.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1038854 longicrus Amphibians of Taiwan Endemic fauna of Taiwan Amphibians described in 1898 Taxa named by Leonhard Stejneger Taxonomy articles created by Polbot