Geocrinia rosea
Encyclopedia
Geocrinia rosea, the Karri or Roseate Frog is a species in the family
, Myobatrachidae
. It is endemic to Southwest Australia
.
It is part of a complex of species, the Geocrinia roseate frogs, which were previously placed in the genus Crinia
by Harrison. It is most easily distinguished from the 5 cogenors of the region by the rosy glow of the belly, given to us by the name.
Geocrinia rosea is very similar in appearance to three other Geocrinia
species; G. alba
, G. lutea
and G. vitellina
. The usually discrete vomerine teeth of the species are evident in this species. Its colouring, largely brown, perhaps mottled, reveals another distinction between the species. The smooth skin of the creature, slightly tubercular on the upper parts, is a rosy pink below. This may also be flecked or mottled. The male has a dark to black throat, the discrete darker markings are shared by both species.
The frog is restricted to the higher rainfall region in around the Karri
forest at the southwest tip of the continent. Streams flow into and by the Warren river, the permanent moisture found there is the haven and restraint. The high rate of endemism in the result of the lack of motility
in the species. But spring and summer bring drive to form amplexus, and the poorly travelled males will cry for a mate with four beats of the generic 'tk'. Here it remains amongst the depressions and recesses, leaving its eggs amidst the fallen timber and dense vegetation of the lush Warren region. The young will emerge from the degrading gelatinous spawn as complete, never swimming in more than the damp floor of their abode.
It is 25 mm long.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
, Myobatrachidae
Myobatrachidae
Myobatrachidae is a family of frogs found in Australia and New Guinea. Members of this family vary greatly in size, from species less than long, to the second largest frog in Australia, the Giant Barred Frog , at in length...
. It is endemic to Southwest Australia
Southwest Australia
Southwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world...
.
It is part of a complex of species, the Geocrinia roseate frogs, which were previously placed in the genus Crinia
Crinia
Crinia is a genus of frog, native to Australia, and part of the family Myobatrachidae. It consists of small frogs, which are distributed throughout most of Australia, excluding the central arid regions...
by Harrison. It is most easily distinguished from the 5 cogenors of the region by the rosy glow of the belly, given to us by the name.
Geocrinia rosea is very similar in appearance to three other Geocrinia
Geocrinia
Geocrinia is a genus of frogs in the family Myobatrachidae. These frogs are endemic to Australia. All the species in this genus were originally referred to as Crinia. Further studies showed there was some considerable differences between this group of frogs and Crinia...
species; G. alba
Geocrinia alba
The White-bellied frog is a small frog in the family Myobatrachidae. It occupies an area near Margaret River in swampy depressions adjoining creeks. Threats from altered ecology have made this a critically endangered species of Southwest Australia.- Description :G...
, G. lutea
Geocrinia lutea
Geocrinia lutea is a species of frog in the Myobatrachidae family. It is sometimes named for the nearby towns, thus the Nornalup or Walpole frog.It is endemic to Southwest Australia, home to five of the seven cogenors in the Geocrinia family....
and G. vitellina
Geocrinia vitellina
The Orange-bellied Frog a species of frog in the family Myobatrachidae. It is endemic to a 20 ha area near Margaret River in Southwest Australia. It is vulnerable to extinction by fire and pigs.- Description :G...
. The usually discrete vomerine teeth of the species are evident in this species. Its colouring, largely brown, perhaps mottled, reveals another distinction between the species. The smooth skin of the creature, slightly tubercular on the upper parts, is a rosy pink below. This may also be flecked or mottled. The male has a dark to black throat, the discrete darker markings are shared by both species.
The frog is restricted to the higher rainfall region in around the Karri
Karri
Eucalyptus diversicolor, commonly known as the Karri, is a eucalypt which is native to the wetter regions of south west of Western Australia.-Description:...
forest at the southwest tip of the continent. Streams flow into and by the Warren river, the permanent moisture found there is the haven and restraint. The high rate of endemism in the result of the lack of motility
Motility
Motility is a biological term which refers to the ability to move spontaneously and actively, consuming energy in the process. Most animals are motile but the term applies to single-celled and simple multicellular organisms, as well as to some mechanisms of fluid flow in multicellular organs, in...
in the species. But spring and summer bring drive to form amplexus, and the poorly travelled males will cry for a mate with four beats of the generic 'tk'. Here it remains amongst the depressions and recesses, leaving its eggs amidst the fallen timber and dense vegetation of the lush Warren region. The young will emerge from the degrading gelatinous spawn as complete, never swimming in more than the damp floor of their abode.
It is 25 mm long.