Fiji Ground Frog
Encyclopedia
The Fiji Ground Frog or Fijian Ground Frog (Platymantis vitianus) is a species of frog
in the Ranidae family.
It is endemic to Fiji
.
The Fiji ground frog is found on four larger islands (Taveuni
, Vanua Levu
, Ovalau
, and Gau
) and a small island, Viwa, (0.6 ha) off the eastern coast of the main island (Viti Levu) of the Fiji archipelago. The species maintains populations throughout the forested (primary, secondary and coastal/littoral) parts of these islands (Osborne, unpublished data).
Its natural habitat
s are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest
s, plantation
s, rural gardens, and secondary/regrowth forest. It can also be found in grassland, along ephemeral streams, where it forages for nocturnal insects.
A largish frog, it can grow up to 100 g and to body lengths (SUL) of 110 mm. The larger individuals tend to be a very dull dark brown (sometimes with yellow spots on either side of the head near the tympanum). However, smaller adults and juvenile frogs can be highly polymorphic in coloration, with banding and stippling in darker or lighter hues of red, brown, green and curry-yellow. It is distinguished from the Platymantis vitiensis (Platymantis vitiensis) by its larger size and smaller toe pads.
The Fiji ground is a nocturnal ground dweller, however, individuals have been encountered on low branches and leaves of riparian forest vegetation. It is thought to be a sit and wait predator, waiting for nocturnal insects to venture nearby.
Reproduction:
The breeding cycle of these frogs is affected by extrinsic environmental conditions and intrinsic reproductive hormonal mechanisms. During the active breeding phase mature gravid females clearly show the presence of large creamy eggs. Nesting occurs terrestrially, mostly underneath rotting logs, and crevices within coconut tree barks and within bamboos. This species lays around 50-60 eggs inside prepared nests and covered with leaf litter. Embryonic development takes place 29-30 days and froglets hatch directly from eggs forgoing the tadpole stage. The age at maturity of P. vitianus is still not known.
Distribution, abundance and conservation status of the Fijian Ground Frog (Platymantis
vitianus). Unpublished report for the BP Conservation Programme.
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...
in the Ranidae family.
It is endemic to Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
.
The Fiji ground frog is found on four larger islands (Taveuni
Taveuni
Taveuni is the third-largest island in Fiji, after Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, with a total land area of 435 square kilometers . The cigar-shaped island, a massive shield volcano which rises from the floor of the Pacific Ocean, is situated 6.5 kilometers to the east of Vanua Levu, across the...
, Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu , formerly known as Sandalwood Island, is the second largest island of Fiji. Located 64 kilometres to the north of the larger Viti Levu, the island has an area of 5,587.1 km² and a population of some 130,000.- Geography :...
, Ovalau
Ovalau
Ovalau is the sixth largest island in Fiji's Lomaiviti Archipelago. Situated at 17.70° South and 178.8° East, , the island is about 13 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide...
, and Gau
Gau Island
Gau is an island belonging to Fiji's Lomaiviti Archipelago. Located at 18.00° S and 179.30 °E, it covers an area of 136.1 square kilometers, with a total shoreline of 66.3 kilometers, making it the 5th largest island in the Fijian archipelago. Its maximum altitude is 738 meters...
) and a small island, Viwa, (0.6 ha) off the eastern coast of the main island (Viti Levu) of the Fiji archipelago. The species maintains populations throughout the forested (primary, secondary and coastal/littoral) parts of these islands (Osborne, unpublished data).
Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s, plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
s, rural gardens, and secondary/regrowth forest. It can also be found in grassland, along ephemeral streams, where it forages for nocturnal insects.
A largish frog, it can grow up to 100 g and to body lengths (SUL) of 110 mm. The larger individuals tend to be a very dull dark brown (sometimes with yellow spots on either side of the head near the tympanum). However, smaller adults and juvenile frogs can be highly polymorphic in coloration, with banding and stippling in darker or lighter hues of red, brown, green and curry-yellow. It is distinguished from the Platymantis vitiensis (Platymantis vitiensis) by its larger size and smaller toe pads.
The Fiji ground is a nocturnal ground dweller, however, individuals have been encountered on low branches and leaves of riparian forest vegetation. It is thought to be a sit and wait predator, waiting for nocturnal insects to venture nearby.
Reproduction:
The breeding cycle of these frogs is affected by extrinsic environmental conditions and intrinsic reproductive hormonal mechanisms. During the active breeding phase mature gravid females clearly show the presence of large creamy eggs. Nesting occurs terrestrially, mostly underneath rotting logs, and crevices within coconut tree barks and within bamboos. This species lays around 50-60 eggs inside prepared nests and covered with leaf litter. Embryonic development takes place 29-30 days and froglets hatch directly from eggs forgoing the tadpole stage. The age at maturity of P. vitianus is still not known.
Source
- Kuruyawa, J., Osborne, T., Thomas, N., Rounds, I., Morrison, C. and Morley, C. 2004.
Distribution, abundance and conservation status of the Fijian Ground Frog (Platymantis
vitianus). Unpublished report for the BP Conservation Programme.
- Narayan, E., Christi, K., and Morley, C. (2008). Ecology and reproduction of the endangered Fijian Ground Frog Platymantis vitianus - Fiji Islands. South Pacific Journal of Natural Science, 26, 28-32.
- Ryan, P. 2000. Fiji's Natural Heritage. Exisle Publishing Limited, Auckland.
- Zug, G., Watling, D. & Morrison, C. 2004. Platymantis vitiana. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 23 July 2007.