Dark-spotted frog
Encyclopedia
The Dark-spotted frog, or black-spotted frog, Pelophylax nigromaculatus (formerly Rana nigromaculata), is a species of true frog
found in East Asia
. It occurs across much of eastern and northeastern China, the Amur River valley in Russia, the Korean Peninsula
, and most of Japan, although it does not occur on Hokkaidō
. It has been considered the commonest of the true frogs on the Korean Peninsula, and has been hunted for food and used as an experimental animal.
The dark-spotted frog is a relatively low-altitude species, not being found above 2200 meters. It ranges across a variety of habitats, from deserts and brushland to meadows and forests, and is typically found in or near stagnant or slow-moving water. Although relatively tolerant of human interference, it is increasingly threatened by hunting and water pollution.
Adults are 6-9 centimeters in length, the females somewhat larger than the males. Males have a single pair of vocal sacs. Mating season occurs from April to June. The eggs are deposited in quantities of 1800 to 3000, and are laid in shallow water.
True frog
The true frogs, family Ranidae, have the widest distribution of any frog family. They are abundant throughout most of the world, occurring on most continents except Antarctica...
found in East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
. It occurs across much of eastern and northeastern China, the Amur River valley in Russia, the Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
, and most of Japan, although it does not occur on Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. It has been considered the commonest of the true frogs on the Korean Peninsula, and has been hunted for food and used as an experimental animal.
The dark-spotted frog is a relatively low-altitude species, not being found above 2200 meters. It ranges across a variety of habitats, from deserts and brushland to meadows and forests, and is typically found in or near stagnant or slow-moving water. Although relatively tolerant of human interference, it is increasingly threatened by hunting and water pollution.
Adults are 6-9 centimeters in length, the females somewhat larger than the males. Males have a single pair of vocal sacs. Mating season occurs from April to June. The eggs are deposited in quantities of 1800 to 3000, and are laid in shallow water.