Amphibians of Australia

Australia's native amphibians are limited to members of the order Anura, commonly known as frogs. All Australian frogs are in the suborder Neobatrachia, also known as the modern frogs, which make up the largest proportion of extant frog species. About 230 of the 5,280 species of frog are native to Australia with 93% of them endemic. [ cite web| title=WAZA - World Association of Zoos and Aquariums - Projects| url=http://www.waza.org/conservation/projects/projects.php?id=74| accessdate=2006-12-05 ] Compared with other continents, species diversity is low, and may be related to the climate of most of the Australian continent.cite book| last=Barker| first=J.| coauthors= Grigg, G.C. & Tyler, M.J.| year=1995| title=A Field Guide to Australian Frogs| publisher=Surrey Beatty & Sons| id=ISBN 0-949324-61-2] There is only one invasive amphibian, the Cane Toad.

Origins

The Australian continent once formed part of the Supercontinent Pangaea, which split into Gondwana and Laurasia approximately 180 million years ago. The earliest true frog fossil, "Vieraella herbsti", is dated between 188 and 213 million years old. [cite web| title=Vieraella hervsti| url=http://tolweb.org/Vieraella_herbsti/16964| accessdate=2006-11-18 ] This predates the splitting of Gondwana, and has resulted in frogs present on all continents.

The first two continents to split from Australia were South America and Africa. The amphibian fauna of both these continents are varied due to collisions with Laurasian continents. However, the South African family Heleophrynidae, and the South American family Leptodactylidae, are both closely related to Myobatrachidae, an Australian family of ground dwelling frogs. [ cite web| title=Amphibian Species of the World - Myobatrachidae Schlegel <em>In</em> Gray, 1850| url=http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/references.php?id=14698| accessdate=2006-07-27 ]

Fossil data suggests the tree frogs, of the family Hylidae, originated in South America after its separation from Africa. Outside Australia, tree frogs are wide-spread throughout much of North and South America, Europe and Asia. Tree frogs presumably migrated to Australia via Antarctica. Similarities in melanosomes between some Litoria and Phyllomedusa suggests a relationship between the South American and Australian tree frogs, however immunological evidence suggests an early divergence between the families. [cite web| title=Amphibian Species of the World - Phyllomedusinae Günther, 1858| url=http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/references.php?id=6645| accessdate=2006-07-31 ]

India, Madagascar and Seychelles split from Gondwana approximately 130 million years ago. The family Sooglossidae is native to both India and the Seychelles, and is considered a sister taxon to Myobatrachidae. Sooglossidae is more closely related to Myobatrachidae than the African or South American families.

Australia and New Guinea are the two major land masses which make up the Australian continent. During its history, there have been many land connections between New Guinea and Australia. The most recent of which severed 10,000 years ago during the transition from a glacial period to the current interglacial period. The result of this recent land connection on the Australian amphibian fauna has been the swapping of species, and even families. The origin of the frog species found on both land masses can be determined by their distributions. It is likely that White's Tree Frog ("Litoria caerulea") migrated from Australia to New Guinea, as it is wide-spread in Australia and only inhabits small areas within New Guinea. Whereas the Giant Tree Frog ("Litoria infrafrenata") is likely from New Guinea, as it is widespread in New Guinea, and only inhabits the Cape York Peninsula in Australia. The single "Nyctimystes" species in Australia is another example of genus swapping that occurred between New Guinea and Australia.

There are two families which are widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere which only inhabit far northern Australia. These are Microhylidae and the Ranidae. Two of the fifty-nine genera of Microhylidae, and only one of approximately 750 species of Ranidae are native to Australia. Although both these families are widely distributed throughout the world, they have only recently reached Australia and New Guinea. This is because the Australian continent has remained isolated since its separation from Antarctica, and as it has drifted north towards Asia, many species have been able to cross into New Guinea, and eventually Australia. However, most of the ecological niches filled by frogs had been filled before the Ranids and Microhylids reached Australia, so only a limited number of species have established.

Distribution

The distribution of Australian frogs is largely influenced by climate. The areas of largest biodiversity occur in the tropical and temperate zones of northern and eastern Australia. Arid areas have restricted amphibian biodiversity, as frogs generally require water to breed. Many Australian frog species have adapted to deal with the harsh conditions of their habitat. Many species, such as those of the genus Cyclorana, burrow underground to avoid heat and prolonged drought conditions. Tadpole and egg development of frogs from arid regions differs from those from higher rainfall regions. Some species, such as those of the "Cyclorana" genus and other desert dwelling species have relatively short tadpole development periods. These species often breed in temporary, shallow pools where the high water temperature speeds up tadpole development. Tadpoles that live in such pools can complete development within a month. On the other hand, species such as those in the "Mixophyes" genus live in areas of high rainfall. Metamorphosis of "Mixophyes" tadpoles may take as long as fifteen months. The Sandhill Frog ("Arenophryne rotunda") lives in sand dunes between Shark Bay and Kalbarri National Park in Western Australia. This area has very little free-standing water and therefore this species has adapted another way of tadpole development. Sandhill Frogs lay their eggs under the sand and the tadpoles develop into frogs entirely within the egg. This adaptation allows them to breed with the absence of water.

There are large variety of habitats inhabited by Australian frogs. Variations in rainfall, temperature, altitude and latitude have resulted in a large number of habitats in Australia, most of which are inhabited by frogs. In the Nullarbor Plain, daytime temperatures can reach 48.5 °C nights can have freezing condition and rainfall is less than 200mm per year. These factors make it very difficult for frogs to survive, and few species are found in this area.

Conservation

During the 1980s, population declines were reported in Australian frog species. Many of the frogs that were reported as declining were high altitude, creek dwelling species that were remote from a changing ecology. This indicated that habitat loss and degradation were not responsible for all the declines; the cause is unknown but the chytrid fungus may be a factor. [ cite web| title=Frogs Australia Network - Frog Declines| url=http://frogsaustralia.net.au/conservation/frog-declines.cfm| accessdate=2006-07-08 ] In some cases entire genera were found declining. Both species of gastric brooding frog are now classified as extinct and all but two species of "Taudactylus" are critically endangered ("Taudactylus diurnus" is classified as extinct and "Taudactylus liemi" is classified as near threatened). Every species in the "Philoria" genus are currently declining [ cite web| title=IUCN Red List - "Philoria"| url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/search.php?freetext=philoria&modifier=phrase&criteria=wholedb&taxa_species=1&Submit.x=0&Submit.y=0&redlistCategory%5B%5D=all&redlistAssessyear%5B%5D=all&country%5B%5D=all&aquatic%5B%5D=all&regions%5B%5D=all&habitats%5B%5D=all&threats%5B%5D=all| accessdate=2006-07-15 ] and some species in the "Torrent Frog" complex ("Litoria nannotis", "Litoria lorica", "Litoria nyakalensis" and "Litoria rheocola") have not been located for a number of years. Currently three Australian species of frog are classified as extinct, 14 listed as critically endangered and 18 as endangered. Of the 14 critically endangered species 4 have not been recorded for over 15 years and may now be extinct. [ cite web| title=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Database Search| url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/search-basic| accessdate=2006-07-08 ]

Prior to the large scale declines of the 1980s, habitat destruction was the major threat to Australian frog species since colonisation.cite book| last=Tyler| first=M. J.| year=1994| title=Australian Frogs A Natural History| publisher=Reed Books| id=ISBN 0-7301-0468-0] For example, the decline of the Giant Burrowing Frog ("Heleioporus australiacus") was mostly attributed to altered land use and fire regimes, such as land clearing for housing or agriculture and high intensity fires. [cite web| url = http://threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10398| title = Giant Burrowing Frog - profile| accessdate = 2007-05-10| author = | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | date = 2005-09-01| format = | work = Threatened species ... New South Wales| publisher = Department of Environment and Conservation| pages = | language = | archiveurl = | archivedate = | quote = ] The distribution of the Giant Burrowing Frog included Sydney, and therefore, large populations were destroyed.

Extinct frogs

* "Rheobatrachus silus" - Southern Gastric-brooding Frog - last seen 1981
* "Rheobatrachus vitellinus" - Northern Gastric-brooding Frog - last seen 1985
* "Taudactylus diurnus" - Mount Glorious Torrent Frog - last seen 1979

Critically endangered frogs

* "Cophixalus concinnus" - Elegant Frog
* "Geocrinia alba" - White-bellied Frog
* "Litoria booroolongensis" - Booroolong Frog
* "Litoria castanea" - Yellow-spotted Tree Frog* - last seen 1980
* "Litoria lorica" - Armoured Frog - rediscovered 2008
* "Litoria nyakalensis" - Nyakala Frog* - last seen 1990
* "Litoria piperata" - Peppered Tree Frog* - last confirmed sighting 1973, similar frogs discovered in 1992
* "Litoria spenceri" - Spotted Tree Frog
* "Philoria frosti" - Baw Baw Frog
* "Pseudophryne corroboree" - Corroboree Frog
* "Taudactylus acutirostris" - Sharp-snouted Day Frog* - three records since 1994
* "Taudactylus eungellensis" - Eungella Torrent Frog
* "Taudactylus pleione" - Kroombit Tinker Frog
* "Taudactylus rheophilus" - Tinkling Frog

Endangered frogs

* "Cophixalus mcdonaldi" - McDonald's Frog
* "Cophixalus monticola" - Mountain Nursery Frog
* "Cophixalus neglectus" - Neglected Frog
* "Litoria brevipalmata" - Green Thighed Frog
* "Litoria cooloolensis" - Cooloolah Tree Frog
* "Litoria nannotis" - Torrent Tree Frog
* "Litoria raniformis" - Growling Grass Frog
* "Litoria rheocola" - Common Mist Frog
* "Mixophyes fleayi" - Fleay's Barred Frog
* "Mixophyes iteratus" - Giant Barred Frog
* "Nyctimystes dayi" - Australian Lace-lid
* "Philoria kundagungan" - Mountain Frog
* "Philoria loveridgei" - Loveridge's Frog
* "Philoria pughi"
* "Philoria richmondensis"
* "Philoria sphagnicolus" - Sphagnum Frog
* "Pseudophryne covacevichae" - Magnificent Brood Frog
* "Pseudophryne pengilleyi" - Northern Corroboree Frog

A * indicates possible extinction. [ cite web| title=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Database Search - Australian Critically Endangered Anuran| url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/search.php?freetext=anura&modifier=phrase&criteria=wholedb&taxa_species=1&redlistCategory%5B%5D=CR&redlistAssessyear%5B%5D=all&country%5B%5D=AU&aquatic%5B%5D=all&regions%5B%5D=all&habitats%5B%5D=all&threats%5B%5D=all&Submit.x=66&Submit.y=18| accessdate=2006-07-10 ]

Australian amphibian genera

The Australian frog fauna consists of four native families, and one introduced family. The sole species of frog introduced to Australia which has naturalised, is the Cane Toad ("Bufo marinus"), of the family Bufonidae. The Cane Toad was introduced to several locations throughout Queensland, and has since spread west and south.

The tree frogs, of the family Hylidae, are one of the major families in Australia, with over 70 species. The tree frogs are split into three genera: "Cyclorana", "Litoria" and "Nyctimystes". The tree frogs of Australia have various habits, from completely arboreal to fossorial.

The other major family native to Australia is Myobatrachidae, consisting of 20 genera and over 100 species. Myobatrachidae is endemic to Australia, New Guinea and a few small islands, however the highest diversity can be found in Australia.

Microhylidae and Ranidae make up a small amount of the Australian frog fauna, with less than 20 species in Microhylidae and one species of Ranidae. The majority of the species within these families are found throughout the world, with Australia making up a small portion of their diversity.

All numbers in the above table refer to Australian amphibians.

Notes

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References

*Barker, J.; Grigg, G.C.; Tyler, M.J. (1995). "A Field Guide to Australian Frogs". Surrey Beatty & Sons.

External links

* [http://frogsaustralia.net.au Frog Australia Network]
* [http://redlist.org IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species]
* [http://frogs.org.au/ Amphibian Research Centre]