User:Fred.e/Sandpile
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[edit] Cyclorana vagitus
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Cyclorana vagitus, the Wailing Frog, is a tree frog known from two locations in the Kimberley (Western Australia). A member of the New World tree frog (Hylidae) family, it is however a ground dweller which evades dry periods by burrowing and hibernating - emering to breed during floods.
[edit] Description
The back of the frog is brown or grey with darker brown or green markings. Underside is white with a granular appearance. The toes are slightly webbed and a dark line extends from the leg to snout. A lighter stripe runs down the back. The call is a repeated wailing or cry. It has a shorter cry and is larger than Cyclorana cultripes.
[edit] Ecology
C. vagitus is a terrestial frog and lacks the aboreal appendages of the similar genus Litoria. The range of the species is in the far north of Western Australia, overlappping the Northern Territory, in a tropical monsoon climate. It has a description based on the two known locations, which occur in open grassland in range of intermittent water sources. It lives from sea level to an altitude of 900 m. Based on the identified groups, population is estimated at ten to fifty thousand. The males commence breeding by crying at floodways - this is frequently heard - with females responding by releasing up to 1000 eggs during a wet season. The tadpoles develop rapidly before the evaporation of the waters.
Like many of the Australian Cyclorana cogenors, it can burrow and enter a state of aestivation. By hibernating it can avoid the arid conditions of the kimberley region and emerge to take advantage of the intermittent flooding of its open grassland habitat.
[edit] Threatened status
No threats have been identified and the species is located within a protected area. The species is given a Least Concern status by the IUCN. The species is presumed to be secure due to high populations and wide dispersal in the range. No study of any trends of these has been under taken.
[edit] Further reading
- Tyler, M.J., Smith, L.A. and Johnstone, R.E 2000. Frogs of Western Australia. 3rd edition. Western Australian Museum, Perth.
[edit] References
Cogger, H.,; Roberts, D. & Horner, P. (2004). Cyclorana vagitus In: IUCN 2006 Red List of Threatened Species.. Retrieved on April 6, 2007.
Category:Tree frogs Category:Amphibians of Western Australia
[edit] Cyclorana platycephala
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Cyclorana platycephala, the Water-holding Frog, is a frog common to most australian states. It differs from most other members of the Hylidae family as a ground dweller and the ability to hibernate.
[edit] Description
The species has populations spread across all the australian states except Victoria. It occupies a wide range of habitat from forests of tropical swamp to intermittent pools and lowland grass country; all habitat is assumed to be of a low elevation. Populations are assumed to be large from frequent reports and a broad range. This range is assumed to overlap with National parks, but research has not been undertaken into the ecology and biology of the species.
[edit] Threatened status
No threats have been identified, research into the extent of habitat loss through land clearing and the associated salinity . The species is given Least Concern status at the IUCN Red List.
[edit] Further reading
- Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Sixth Edition. Reed New Holland, New South Wales.
[edit] References
- Hero, J.-M.,; Clarke, J., Meyer, E., Retallick, R., Horner, P. & Roberts, D. (2004). Cyclorana platycephala. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.. Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
- Hero, J M; et al (2002-04-05). Cyclorana platycephala Water-holding Frog. AmphibiaWeb. Berkeley (The Regents of the University of California). Retrieved on April 7, 2007. “There are three separate populations. One in the central arid zone of Western Australia from Winning Pool east to Lake Disappointment and south to Morawa and Laverton. There is a small area in the north-western corner of the Northern Territory. Another large area extends from northern South Australia into New South Wales and south-western Queensland. The extent of occurrence of the species is approximately 1645500 km2. Widely dispersed in habitat.”
Category:Tree frogs Category:Amphibians of Western Australia
[edit] Explanations
Although no documented physical evidence of bunyips has been found, it has been suggested by cryptozoologists that tales of bunyips could be Aboriginal memories of the diprotodon, or other extinct Australian megafauna which became extinct some 50,000 years ago.[1]
The cries of the possum or koala could likely be mistaken for the bunyip, as most people are surprised to find koalas or possums are capable of such loud roars. The Barking Owl, a nocturnal bird that lives around swamps and billabongs in the Bush is sometimes credited for making the sounds of the bunyip. The bird is known to make a call that can easily be mistaken for the cries of a woman or child. Other species of birds, such as bitterns and bush-stone curlews emit blood curdling sounds that were sometimes attributed to bunyips.
The most likely explanation for the existence of Bunyips relates to their locations on the Murray-Darling river system. Australian Fur Seals are known to swim up the river system during times of flood, subsequently becoming trapped within the river system once the flooding resides. There have been dozens of Fur Seals killed or captured as far north as Canberra, incidentally, in close proximity to areas where a Bunyip has been heard or sighted.
The coincidence of the features and sounds made of both animals, would necessarily lead to an inland dwelling Aborigine or European to come to the conclusion that the creature was in fact a new species. Meanwhile, those having travelled more widely, would immediately recognise the same creature as a Fur seal.
[edit] Further reading
- Flett, Josie.(1999) A history of bunyips : Australia’s great mystery water beasts Tyalgum, NSW : Free Spirit. ISBN 0957735405
