The Australian waterfall frog or torrent treefrog (Ranoidea nannotis) is a species of tree frog native to Far North Queensland, Australia. The common name "waterfall frog" is indicative of its habitat of moist, rocky streams, and is often found along waterfalls within its range.
The waterfall frog is large in size, reaching 5.5 cm in length. The dorsal surface is mottled with puck brown. The patterning on the back is similar to its habitat, allowing for effective camouflage against granite. The ventral surface is bright orange, green, and pink in colour, and granular. The posterior ventral surface is translucent, showing internal parts.
The toe pads of R. nannotis are very large in comparison to toe width, to aid in gripping to rocks in the rapids. The nuptial pads of breeding males are also large, covering the entire inner surface of the thumb, with spines also present on the arms and chest. The tympanum is not visible, the fingers are partially webbed, and the toes are completely webbed.
Like the stoney creek frog (Litoria wilcoxi), and many other stream-dwelling frogs, waterfall frogs lack vocal sacs. This may be because the sound of a running stream drowns out any calls, and it becomes a waste of energy.
Ecology and behavioredit
The waterfall frog is a stream-dwelling frog native to tropical north Queensland, from Paluma to Cooktown, notable in the Mt. Carbine uplands. It is found at altitudes between 180 and 3,000 m (590 and 9,840 ft). It has undergone large declines in high-altitude areas (likely from chytridiomycosis), with many populations completely extinct. It is, however, stable in lowland areas.
Conservation statusedit
It is listed as Least concern under both the IUCN Red List.
Referencesedit
^Amey, Andrew P. (2013). "The reproductive cycle of the Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) in Brisbane, south-eastern Queensland: a tropical invader of a subtropical, seasonal environment". Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature. 56 (2): 271–277.
Cunningham, M. 2002. Identification and evolution of Australian torrent treefrogs. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 48(1):93-102. Brisbane, Qld.
"DEH Species Profiles - Litoria nannotis - Waterfall Frog, Torrent Tree Frog". Retrieved 2006-12-18.
"IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Litoria nannotis". Retrieved 2022-12-22.
Further readingedit
Hodgkison, Simon, Hero, Jean-Marc. 2001. Daily Behavior and Microhabitat Use of the Waterfall Frog, Litoria nannotis in Tully Gorge, Eastern Australia. Journal of Herpetology. 35(1):116-120.
External linksedit
Wikispecies has information related to Litoria nannotis.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ranoidea nannotis.
waterfall, frog, australian, waterfall, frog, torrent, treefrog, ranoidea, nannotis, species, tree, frog, native, north, queensland, australia, common, name, waterfall, frog, indicative, habitat, moist, rocky, streams, often, found, along, waterfalls, within, . The Australian waterfall frog or torrent treefrog Ranoidea nannotis is a species of tree frog native to Far North Queensland Australia The common name waterfall frog is indicative of its habitat of moist rocky streams and is often found along waterfalls within its range Waterfall frogConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AmphibiaOrder AnuraFamily HylidaeGenus RanoideaSpecies R nannotisBinomial nameRanoidea nannotis Andersson 1916 SynonymsLitoria nannotis Andersson 1916 Mosleyia nannotis Wells and Wellington 1985 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Ecology and behavior 4 Conservation status 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksTaxonomy editThe waterfall frog is one of the four species of Australian torrent treefrogs that comprise the Ranoidea nannotis species group The other species are the mountain mist frog common mist frog and the armoured mist frog 1 Description edit nbsp Dorsal view of a waterfall frog in Far North Queensland Australia nbsp TadpoleThe waterfall frog is large in size reaching 5 5 cm in length The dorsal surface is mottled with puck brown The patterning on the back is similar to its habitat allowing for effective camouflage against granite The ventral surface is bright orange green and pink in colour and granular The posterior ventral surface is translucent showing internal parts The toe pads of R nannotis are very large in comparison to toe width to aid in gripping to rocks in the rapids The nuptial pads of breeding males are also large covering the entire inner surface of the thumb with spines also present on the arms and chest The tympanum is not visible the fingers are partially webbed and the toes are completely webbed Like the stoney creek frog Litoria wilcoxi and many other stream dwelling frogs waterfall frogs lack vocal sacs This may be because the sound of a running stream drowns out any calls and it becomes a waste of energy Ecology and behavior editThe waterfall frog is a stream dwelling frog native to tropical north Queensland from Paluma to Cooktown notable in the Mt Carbine uplands It is found at altitudes between 180 and 3 000 m 590 and 9 840 ft It has undergone large declines in high altitude areas likely from chytridiomycosis with many populations completely extinct It is however stable in lowland areas Conservation status editIt is listed as Least concern under both the IUCN Red List References edit Amey Andrew P 2013 The reproductive cycle of the Asian House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus in Brisbane south eastern Queensland a tropical invader of a subtropical seasonal environment Memoirs of the Queensland Museum Nature 56 2 271 277 Cunningham M 2002 Identification and evolution of Australian torrent treefrogs Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 48 1 93 102 Brisbane Qld DEH Species Profiles Litoria nannotis Waterfall Frog Torrent Tree Frog Retrieved 2006 12 18 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Litoria nannotis Retrieved 2022 12 22 Further reading editHodgkison Simon Hero Jean Marc 2001 Daily Behavior and Microhabitat Use of the Waterfall Frog Litoria nannotis in Tully Gorge Eastern Australia Journal of Herpetology 35 1 116 120 External links edit nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Litoria nannotis nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ranoidea nannotis Litoria nannotis at CalPhotos Waterfall frog at the Encyclopedia of Life nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Waterfall frog amp oldid 1166370147, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
