Litoria castanea
| Litoria castanea | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hylidae |
| Genus: | Litoria |
| Species: | L. castanea |
| Binomial name | |
| Litoria castanea Steindachner, 1867 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Litoria castanea, known as the yellow-spotted tree frog, New England swamp frog, tablelands bell frog or yellow-spotted bell frog, is a critically endangered species of frog that is endemic to southeastern Australia.[1] Its natural habitats are temperate grassland, rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, and ponds.[1]
Litoria moorei is a member of the Litoria aurea complex, being distinguished by cream markings on its thighs. The overall colour is pale green and the dark to black spots are highlighted by the bronze patches. The toes are entirely webbed, the species favouring permanent water bodies. The reason behind its drastic decline are unclear, but the disease chytridiomycosis is suspected to have played a major role.[1] No recorded sighting had been made since 1980, and the species was believed to be extinct.[1] However, in late 2009 New South Wales Fisheries field scientist Luke Pearce located a surviving population of the frogs.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Jean-Marc Hero, Harry Hines, Frank Lemckert & Peter Robertson (2004). "Litoria castanea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
- ↑ "'Extinct' frog species found alive after 30 years". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 4 March 2010.
External links
Data related to Litoria castanea at Wikispecies
- "Litoria castanea". Australian Frog Database. Frogs Australia Network. 23 February 2005. Retrieved 4 December 2007.