Streambank Froglet
Encyclopedia
The Streambank Froglet or Flinders Ranges Froglet (Crinia riparia) is a small, locally common, Australia
n ground-dwelling frog
, of the family Myobatrachidae.
and Gammon Ranges National Parks of central South Australia
.
to posterior). The colouring can be red, brown, tan, to drab olive green colour with many shades in between. Like its relatives Crinia signifera, this frog is of extremely variable markings, with great variety usually found within confined populations. The dorsal
and ventral surfaces are very variable. The dorsal surface may be smooth or warty. The tympanum
of this frog is not visible.
The colour under the throat is pale grey, the ventral surface backwards from the front legs is white with granular, mottled black.
Because of the seasonality of the rain, and periodic flooding, the tadpoles of these frogs have sucker mouthparts and a streamlined, flattened profile adapted to hold on to the rocks even in canyons where water can be funneled into flowing very rapidly. The call of the male is a barely audible 'creeeak-crek' described as sounding like a creaking hinge.
The diet of the species consists of small insects, much smaller in comparison to their size to most frogs.
Australia
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-dwelling 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...
, of the family Myobatrachidae.
Distribution
The Streambank Froglet is found only in the area around the Flinders RangesFlinders Ranges
Flinders Ranges is the largest mountain range in South Australia, which starts approximately north west of Adelaide. The discontinuous ranges stretch for over from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna...
and Gammon Ranges National Parks of central South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
Physical description
The Streambank froglet is a small frog (2.5 centimetres measured from snoutSnout
The snout, or muzzle, is the protruding portion of an animal's face, consisting of its nose, mouth, and jaw.-Terminology:The term "muzzle", used as a noun, can be ambiguous...
to posterior). The colouring can be red, brown, tan, to drab olive green colour with many shades in between. Like its relatives Crinia signifera, this frog is of extremely variable markings, with great variety usually found within confined populations. The dorsal
Dorsum (biology)
In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright. In vertebrates the dorsum contains the backbone. The term dorsal refers to anatomical structures that are either situated toward or grow...
and ventral surfaces are very variable. The dorsal surface may be smooth or warty. The tympanum
Tympanum (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...
of this frog is not visible.
The colour under the throat is pale grey, the ventral surface backwards from the front legs is white with granular, mottled black.
Ecology and behaviour
The Streambank Froglet is found throughout the Flinders Ranges and Southern Gammon Ranges, It is found most often under rocks in springfed waterholes or cobbled pools in intermittently flowing streambeds.Because of the seasonality of the rain, and periodic flooding, the tadpoles of these frogs have sucker mouthparts and a streamlined, flattened profile adapted to hold on to the rocks even in canyons where water can be funneled into flowing very rapidly. The call of the male is a barely audible 'creeeak-crek' described as sounding like a creaking hinge.
The diet of the species consists of small insects, much smaller in comparison to their size to most frogs.