Sandhill Frog
Encyclopedia
The Northern Sandhill Frog (Arenophryne rotunda) is a small, fossorial
frog
native to a small region of the Western Australia
n coast. It was formerly considered the sole species within the Arenophryne genus until a new species of frog called the Southern Sandhill Frog was discovered about 100 kilometers from Geraldton, Western Australia in Kalbarri National Park
and given the scientific name Arenophryne xiphorhyncha.
is not visible
n ground frogs, family Myobatrachidae
. Most of the Australian burrowing frogs burrow backwards; only the Sandhill Frog and the Turtle Frog (Myobatrachus gouldii) burrow head first. To achieve this, both frogs have small heads and strong arms. The Sandhill Frog inhabits coarse-grained sand dunes on the coast of Western Australia, ranging from Shark Bay
in the north, Kalbarri National Park
in the south and Cooloomia in the east. They inhabit an area which does not have much free-standing water, as it is quickly absorbed into the sand. However, the sand becomes moist at a relatively shallow depth. During the day, the Sandhill Frog will avoid desiccation by burrowing into the moist layer of the sand, emerging at night to hunt. Their diet
primarily consists of ant
s.
During March and April, the males will call from above or below the surface of the sand
. The male and female will burrow together. As the dry season dries out the sand, the frogs will continue to dig further to remain in the wet layer. They may reach depths of 80 cenimetres (2.6 ft). They will lay a maximum of eleven eggs
underground, where they undergo direct development, and bypass the tadpole
stage. The adult frogs will remain under ground for at least five months.
Fossorial
A fossorial organism is one that is adapted to digging and life underground such as the badger, the naked mole rat, and the mole salamanders Ambystomatidae...
frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
native to a small region of the Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
n coast. It was formerly considered the sole species within the Arenophryne genus until a new species of frog called the Southern Sandhill Frog was discovered about 100 kilometers from Geraldton, Western Australia in Kalbarri National Park
Kalbarri National Park
Kalbarri National Park is located north of Perth. The major geographical features of the park include the Murchison River gorge which runs for nearly 80 kilometres on the lower reaches of the Murchison River...
and given the scientific name Arenophryne xiphorhyncha.
Physical description
The Northern Sandhill Frog is a small, rotund frog, reaching a maximum length of 33 millimetres (1.3 in). It is a burrowing frog, and has short, strong legs. The dorsal surface is mottled in colour, from dark grey and white to pale brown. It is covered in small warts and ridges. It also has small, bright red or green, patches on its back. The ventral surface is a dull white. The head is small, and triangular in shape, and the body is flat. The tympanumTympanum (zoology)
The tympanum is an external hearing structure in animals such as frogs, toads, insects, and mammals, to name a few.-Anurans:In frogs and toads, it is located just behind the eye. It does not actually process sound waves; it simply transmits them to the amphibian's inner ear, which is protected...
is not visible
Ecology and behaviour
The Sandhill Frogs are one of the more peculiar of the AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n ground frogs, family 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...
. Most of the Australian burrowing frogs burrow backwards; only the Sandhill Frog and the Turtle Frog (Myobatrachus gouldii) burrow head first. To achieve this, both frogs have small heads and strong arms. The Sandhill Frog inhabits coarse-grained sand dunes on the coast of Western Australia, ranging from Shark Bay
Shark Bay
Shark Bay is a World Heritage listed bay in Western Australia. The term may also refer to:* the locality of Shark Bay, now known as Denham* Shark Bay Marine Park* Shark Bay , a shark exhibit at Sea World, Gold Coast, Australia* Shire of Shark Bay...
in the north, Kalbarri National Park
Kalbarri National Park
Kalbarri National Park is located north of Perth. The major geographical features of the park include the Murchison River gorge which runs for nearly 80 kilometres on the lower reaches of the Murchison River...
in the south and Cooloomia in the east. They inhabit an area which does not have much free-standing water, as it is quickly absorbed into the sand. However, the sand becomes moist at a relatively shallow depth. During the day, the Sandhill Frog will avoid desiccation by burrowing into the moist layer of the sand, emerging at night to hunt. Their diet
Insectivore
An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....
primarily consists of ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
s.
During March and April, the males will call from above or below the surface of the sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
. The male and female will burrow together. As the dry season dries out the sand, the frogs will continue to dig further to remain in the wet layer. They may reach depths of 80 cenimetres (2.6 ft). They will lay a maximum of eleven eggs
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
underground, where they undergo direct development, and bypass the tadpole
Tadpole
A tadpole or polliwog is the wholly aquatic larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian, particularly that of a frog or toad.- Appellation :...
stage. The adult frogs will remain under ground for at least five months.