Rheobatrachus Silus: Information

Geographic Range

This species of frog is only found in the Blackall và Conondale Ranges in Southeastern Queensl&, Australia (Barker, 1995).

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Biogeographic Regions australian

Habitat

This frog is mostly aquatic và is found in rocky creek beds, adjacent pools, & rochồng pools in the Australian rainforest. It also lives along the rocky streams of the moist eucalyptus forest.

Habitat Regions Terrestrial Biomes Aquatic Biomes lakes & ponds rivers and streams temporary pools Wetlands

Physical Description

The length of the oval-shaped R. silus ranges in females from 45 to lớn 54 milimet, và 33 to 41 mm in males. Extremely large eyes dorsally protrude from its small, flattened head (Tyler, 1983). The skin color on its back ranges from dull gray to lớn slate, with obscure dark và light patches. When the background is pale, a broad brown và posteriorly curved, superocular bar is detectable (Barker, 1995). Its belly is marked with large creamy patches on a trắng surface. The feet of this frog are extensively webbed to suit its aquatic lifestyle.

Other Physical Features Sexual Dimorphism female larger Range length 33 to lớn 54 mm 1.30 to lớn 2.13 in

Development

Gastric brooding frog tadpoles develop in their mother"s stomach for 6 to 7 weeks. The tadpoles bởi vì not feed during this time, as they lachồng tooth rows. The young develop at different rates & are birthed when they are ready; expelling all of the juvenile frogs may take several days.

Development - Life Cycle

Reproduction

The reproductive sầu habits of the gastric brooding frog set it apart from other species. The breeding age for this frog is about two years. The process of egg deposition and amplexus has never been observed; it is only known that the eggs are ingested through the mouth (Barker, 1995). The female swallows between 18 and 25 fertilized cream-colored eggs, which develop in her stomach. During this 6 lớn 7 week period, the colorless tadpoles lack tooth rows and vì chưng not feed. The female also stops feeding entirely because of the egg jelly and chemicals secreted by the tadpoles which switch off the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach wall (A.N.C.A., 1996). The entire digestive sầu system shuts down, which prevents the digestion of the young. Birth is accomplished by the female widely opening her mouth và dilating her esophagus. The offspring are propelled from the stomach to the mouth, và then hop away.

The breeding season occurs during the spring & summer months. Though the warm temperatures of these months aren"t essential for reproduction, rain & moisture are necessary (Tyler, 1983).

Key Reproductive sầu Features gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate) fertilization Range age at sexual or reproductive sầu maturity (female) 2 (low) years Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 2 (low) years

Each female gastric brooding frog contributes yolk to lớn her eggs, & then after they are fertilized, she swallows them và carries them in her stomach for 6 to lớn 7 weeks. During this time, her digestive sầu system shuts down và she cannot eat. Once the young are fully developed và expelled from her mouth, she has no further tương tác with them. Male gastric brooding frogs contribute nothing lớn the next generation except their sperm.

Parental Investment pre-fertilization provisioning pre-hatching/birth protecting female

Lifespan/Longevity

In captivity, individual R. silus have lived up to 3 years.

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Range lifespanStatus: captivity 3 (high) years

Behavior

These frogs are not very active sầu và they often remain in the same position for several hours at a time. They are neither strictly nocturnal nor diurnal (Tyler, 1983). They are fast & powerful swimmers, but often just drift or float ventral side up in the water. Though aquatically adapted, they travel a great deal on lvà. They are only capable of leaping 25 centimet, which makes them potentially easy prey.

Key Behaviors terricolous

Communication và Perception

The advertisement điện thoại tư vấn of the southern gastric brooding frog is a pulse with a slight upward inflection lasting for 0.5 seconds, repeated every 6 seconds.

Communication Channels Other Communication Modes Perception Channels

Food Habits

The diet of R. silus consists mainly of small live sầu insects. Once the prey is captured, the frog manipulates it further inkhổng lồ the mouth with its forelimbs. Soft-bodied insects are eaten at the water surface, while stronger prey are taken underwater for consumption. Rheobatrachus silus has been observed catching insects on land as well as in water (Tyler, 1983).

Primary Diet carnivore Animal Foods insects

Predation

The two major predators of R. silus, white-faced herons và eels, inhabit the same streams as the frogs. The leaves from eucalyptus trees & stones along the stream banks aid in hiding this species from predators. When grasped, as an escape mechanism, they excrete a coat of mucus that enables them lớn slip away.

Known Predators

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

The ability lớn shut down the secretion of powerful digestive acids could have an important bearing in the medical treatment of humans who suffer from gastric ulcers.

Conservation Status

The gastric brooding frog has limited distributions, which has been detrimental to its existence. It is listed as endangered in the Appendix of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Faumãng cầu và Flora. In 1973, when this species was discovered, they were extremely abundant, and believed comtháng. Astonishingly, less than a decade after their discovery, they seemingly disappeared without a trace. There are several speculated causes for the population crash: drought, over-collection by herpetologists, habitat pollution by the logging industry and by the damming of the creeks for the gold-panning industry (Tyler, 1985). This species" permeable skin makes them especially susceptible khổng lồ the pollution in their aquatic environment.

This species is currently listed as Extinct by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. No individuals have been observed in the wild since 1981, despite extensive sầu searches.

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Other Comments

Gastric brooding frogs cannot be tamed và always struggle when handled.