Corroboree frog
It has been suggested that this article should be split into articles titled Southern corroboree frog and Northern corroboree frog. (discuss) (November 2020) |
Corroboree frog | |
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Southern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne corroboree) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Family: | Myobatrachidae |
Subfamily: | Myobatrachinae
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Genus: | Pseudophryne Fitzinger, 1843 |
Distribution of P. corroboree in blue, P. pengilleyi in red, in New South Wales |
Corroboree frogs (
Description
The northern form of the corroboree frog deviates slightly in having narrow yellow to greenish stripes and is slightly smaller.
Distribution
The corroboree frogs have historically only been found in a few patches across two regions of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and southern New South Wales (NSW), and these areas have contracted significantly in recent years.[2]
Southern corroboree frogs live at altitudes of 1,300–1,760 m (4,270–5,770 ft) above sea level, historically in an area now within
Northern corroboree frogs live 750–1,800 m (2,460–5,910 ft) above sea level, in three distinct regions, with the frogs displaying three distinct genetic characteristics. These populations live in the following areas: spanning the Fiery Range and Bogong Peaks in Kosciuszko National Park, the Bondo, Micalong and Wee Jasper State Forests in NSW; along the
Biology
Reproduction
The southern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne corroboree) is critically endangered (CR)[3] . Sexual maturity of P. corroboree is reached at four years of age, with one year as an embryo/tadpole and two years as a juvenile/subadult. Adults primarily have only one breeding season. Breeding occurs around December terrestrially near shallow pools, fens, seepages, wet grassland or wet heaths, where the males build chamber nests within the grasses and moss. Males compete for females via song. Each male will attract up to ten females to his burrow sequentially and may dig a new burrow if his first is filled with eggs. The female lays up to 38 eggs and the male grasps her and deposits sperm directly onto the eggs. Tadpoles develop but remain within the protective egg coat until hatching occurs when high ground-water levels after rain cause the nest to become flooded at 4 to 6 months. Tadpole development takes six to eight months. Metamorphosis occurs between December and February.[4]
Northern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne pengilleyi) Endangered (EN) P. pengilleyi prefers to breed in sphagnum bogs and wet heath in sub-alpine areas and dense patches of herbs in openings or seepages amongst fallen tussocks at lower elevation (bog pools at high altitudes above 1,300 m (4,300 ft) and in shallow seepage pools in gullies at lower altitudes of 1,000–1,400 m (3,300–4,600 ft)). Other reproductive details are as for P. corroboree. Both species are restricted to mountain and sub-alpine woodlands, heathlands and grasslands.
Non-breeding habitat for both species occurs in forest, woodland and heath adjacent to breeding sites.
Diet
The typical diet of a mature southern corroboree frog includes beetles, mites, ants and insect larvae. However, as tadpoles they also tend to eat algae and other small pieces of organic material found in their pools.[5]
Toxicity
Corroboree frogs are the first vertebrates discovered that are able to produce their own poisonous alkaloid, as opposed to obtaining it via diet as many other frogs do. The alkaloid is secreted from the skin as a defence against predation, and potentially against skin infections by microbes. It has been described as potentially lethal to mammals if ingested. The unique alkaloid produced has been named pseudo-phrynamine.[6]
Behaviour
Corroboree frogs are quite unusual in their nature. Not only do they not start breeding until four years of age, they also
Conservation status
The southern corroboree frog was considered relatively numerous within its very small distribution in the 1970s, as of June 2004 it had an estimated adult population of 64, but suffered declines of up to 80% over the 10 years up to 1989, at which time it was found only within a fragmented region of less than 10 km2 (3.9 sq mi) within Kosciuszko National Park.[8] It has been listed as critically endangered since at least 2004 and is considered to be one of Australia's most endangered species.[9] There are fewer than 30 individuals left in the wild as of March 2022[update].[10]
The northern corroboree frog has not suffered as badly as the southern. It is more widely distributed across about 550 km2 (210 sq mi) of the Brindabella and Fiery Ranges in Namadgi National Park in the ACT, and Kosciuszko National Park and Buccleuch State Forest in NSW. In 2004 it was downgraded from an IUCN assessment of critically endangered to endangered, though in 2022 this decision was reverted .[11]
Cause for decline
The main threats to the survival of the frogs are thought to be infection with the
Severe
The
Other threats to the southern species include residential and commercial development (including ski resorts); climate change (causing drought and fires); and pollution.[9]
Other causes such as
Conservation efforts
The Amphibian Research Centre had already begun a rescue programme under which eggs were collected and raised to late tadpole stage before return as close as possible to their collection site. Research is now under way into
Conservationists have stepped up efforts to increase the population of the southern corroboree frog since the 2019–20 bushfires. In March 2022, 100 frogs were released into the park as part of a joint breeding program between Taronga Zoo, Zoos Victoria, the
References
- ^ IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Pseudophryne bibronii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T41050A78435819. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
- ^ a b c "Historical distribution". Corroboree Frog. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- .
- ^ "Southern Corroboree Frog". Taronga. 10 July 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
- PMID 2380714.
- ^ "Corroboree Frog". KidCyber. Archived from the original on 21 December 2006.
- .
- ^ . Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d Proust, Keira (14 March 2022). "Critically endangered southern corroboree frog conservation efforts ramp up". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- . Retrieved 26 April 2023.
External links
- Southern Corroboree Frog (Frogs of Australia)
- Southern corroboree frog (Zoos Victoria)
- Northern corroboree frog (Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve)
- Project Corroboree homepage (Amphibian Research Centre)
- Corroboree frog (Includes a good picture of frogs' underbellies)
- Recovery Plan for the Southern Corroboree Frog NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, July 2001
- Southern Corroboree Frog (Threatened Species Profile) NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, 1999