Tasmanian Froglet
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The Tasmanian froglet (''Crinia tasmaniensis'') is a species of ground-dwelling
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 ...
that occurs only in
Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...
,
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 ...
.


Description

This is a fairly small species of frog, up to about 30 mm. It is variable, but is generally brown (dark to reddish) or grey and can have spots or blotches of another colour, at times this species can be completely dark brown or black, with no variation in colour throughout the dorsal surface. The dorsal surface can be bumpy or smooth. There is often a reddish stripe present from the nostril down the side. The ventral surface is mostly white, however it has some red and dark blotches as well as red in the thighs.


Ecology and behaviour

This species of frog is only found in Tasmania. It inhabits shallow streams, temporary ponds and puddles, dams, swamps and soaks, mostly at higher altitudes throughout most of the state. It is frequently encountered in the west of the state. It can be found in rainforest, cleared, woodland and alpine habitats. Males make a lamb-like call, ', from land beside water or while floating in water, mainly in spring and summer. Up to 100 eggs are laid in still water all year round. The eggs have rather large capsules, about . Tadpoles are brown-grey and reach in length. Development takes about 3 months and metamorph are about and resemble the adult. This is one of only three species of frogs
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 elsew ...
to Tasmania.


Sources


Frogs Australia Network
frog call available here. *Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney. *Robinson, M. 2002. A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia. Australian Museum/Reed New Holland: Sydney.


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1848261 Crinia Amphibians of Tasmania Amphibians described in 1864 Taxa named by Albert Günther Frogs of Australia