Growling grass frog

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Green and gold frog" redirects here and is not to be confused with
Green and golden frog
.

Growling grass frog
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Ranoidea
Species:
R. raniformis
Binomial name
Ranoidea raniformis
Keferstein
, 1867
Native range
Synonyms

Litoria raniformis

The growling grass frog (Ranoidea raniformis), also commonly known as the southern bell frog, warty swamp frog and erroneously as the

Victoria to New South Wales, with populations through Tasmania. This species' common names vary between states; the name southern bell frog applies in New South Wales and South Australia, growling grass frog in Victoria, and green and gold frog in Tasmania
. This species has been introduced to New Zealand.

Description

A light-green Litoria raniformis

The growling grass frog is a very large, ground-dwelling tree frog up to 10 cm (almost 4 in) from snout to vent. It is a mottled bright green and bronze colour above, often with dark brown enameled bumps. It has a pale cream underside, with a faint cobbling pattern. A pale stripe runs from the side of the head down the flanks as a skin fold. The thighs are blue-green in colour.

There are a series of shallow bumps over its back. This frog closely resembles the

tympanum
is visible in these frogs.

The

iridescent
green sheen along their backbones.

Ecology and behaviour

This species is associated with large swamps, permanent dam impoundments, ponds, and lakes (particularly ones with reeds) in woodland, shrubland, open and coastal areas.

This frog is an agile climber, but is most often found among dense reeds or along swampy grasslands. It hunts and basks in the sun during the day. Growling grass frogs reportedly hunt other frogs by zoning into the sound of their calls.

The call is a three part moaning "craw-ork ar-ar", rising and then falling in tone (described as the sound of a duck or goose being strangled). The males develop black, rough

eggs
(up to several thousand) are distributed in a loose pile. The tadpole stage lasts approximately 12 weeks.

This frog has declined across much of its

range and has disappeared altogether from some regions (such as the Australian Capital Territory and the lowest 200 KM of the River Murray). Several populations along the River Murray have been stabilised through the regular managed delivery of water to breeding locations (for example in the Lower Murrumbidgee catchment in New South Wales and the Riverland region of South Australia). Frogs are regularly recorded in suburban Melbourne and Geelong, with similar records from regional cities. Animals released from the pet trade established in the Adelaide Hills in the 1990s but this population is now extinct.[2]

Distribution

The species is native to southeastern Australia, and can also be found in Tasmania. The species was introduced to New Zealand in 1867 by the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, and has since become widely distributed across both the North Island and South Island.[3]

As a pet

It is kept as a pet; in Australia, this animal may be kept in captivity with the appropriate permit.

References

Wikispecies has information related to Litoria raniformis.
  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T12152A78435466.en
    . Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  2. ^ "Litoria raniformis (Keferstein , 1867): Golden Bell Frog". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  3. Wikidata Q76013985
    .
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