Growling Grass Frog
Encyclopedia
The Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis), also commonly known as the Southern Bell Frog, Warty Swamp Frog and erroneously as the Green Frog
is a species of ground dwelling tree frog is native to South eastern Australia
; ranging from southern South Australia
along the Murray River
though Victoria
to New South Wales
, and populations through Tasmania
. This species common names varies between state, the name Southern Bell Frog applies to New South Wales, Growling Grass Frog in Victoria & South Australia and Green and Gold Frog in Tasmania
. This species has been introduced to New Zealand
.
The Growling Grass Frog is a very large ground-dwelling tree frog up to 10 cm (almost 4 inches) from snout to vent
. It is a mottled bright green and bronze colour above, often with dark brown enameled bumps. It has a pale cream underside, with a faint cobbling pattern. There is a pale stripe running from the side of the head down the flanks as a skin fold
. The thighs are blue-green in colour.
There are a series of shallow bumps over its back. This frog closely resembles the Green and Golden Bell Frog
(Litoria aurea), but is distinguished by the shallow bumps on its back, a shorter call and a slightly different head and snout shape. The tympanum
is visible in these frogs.
The tadpoles
are also very large (up to 9.5 cm or 3.7 inches). The tadpoles often have a coppery pigment
along their sides and an iridescent green sheen along their backbone.
s, permanent dam
s, pond
s and lakes (particularly ones with reeds) in woodland
, shrubland
, open and coast
al areas.
This frog is an agile climber, but is most often found amongst dense reeds or along swampy grasslands. This frog hunts and basks in the sun during the day. There are reports that Growling Grass frogs will hunt other frogs by zoning in to the sound of their calls.
The call is a three part moaning "Craw-ork ar-ar", rising and then falling in tone. (described as the sound of a duck or goose being strangled).The males develop black rough nuptial pad
s on their thumbs during the breeding season, which occurs during spring through to late summer. The eggs
(up to several thousand) are distributed in a loose pile. These frogs stay in tadpole stage for at least one year.
This frog is believed to be in decline across much of its range
. In some regions it has disappeared altogether, however in others it remains locally abundant (such as parts of northern Victoria
and the Riverland in South Australia, associated with the Murray River).
Green frog
The Green Frog is a species of frog native to the eastern half of the United States and Canada. There are two subspecies—the Bronze Frog and the Northern Green Frog.-Description:...
is a species of ground dwelling tree frog is native to South eastern Australia
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...
; ranging from southern 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...
along the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
though Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
to New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, and populations through Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. This species common names varies between state, the name Southern Bell Frog applies to New South Wales, Growling Grass Frog in Victoria & South Australia and Green and Gold Frog in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. This species has been introduced to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Physical description
Cloaca
In zoological anatomy, a cloaca is the posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal, reproductive, and urinary tracts of certain animal species...
. It is a mottled bright green and bronze colour above, often with dark brown enameled bumps. It has a pale cream underside, with a faint cobbling pattern. There is a pale stripe running from the side of the head down the flanks as a skin fold
Skin fold
Skin folds are areas of skin where it folds. Many skin folds are distinct, heritable anatomical features, and may be used for identification of animal species, while others are non-specific and may be produced either by individual development of an organism or by arbitrary application of force to...
. The thighs are blue-green in colour.
There are a series of shallow bumps over its back. This frog closely resembles the Green and Golden Bell Frog
Green and Golden Bell Frog
The Green and Golden Bell Frog , also named the Green Bell Frog, Green and Golden Swamp Frog and Green Frog, is a ground-dwelling tree frog native to eastern Australia. Despite its classification and climbing abilities, it does not live in trees and spends almost all of its time close to ground level...
(Litoria aurea), but is distinguished by the shallow bumps on its back, a shorter call and a slightly different head and snout shape. 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...
is visible in these frogs.
The tadpoles
Tadpoles
Tadpoles are a psychedelic rock band formed in 1990 in New York City by Todd Parker , Michael Kite Audino and Josh Bracken In 1992, Nick Kramer , David Max and Andrew Jackson of the fledgling Manhattan group, Hit, joined the Tadpoles after putting Hit on hiatus.In 1993 Kite and Jackson left the...
are also very large (up to 9.5 cm or 3.7 inches). The tadpoles often have a coppery pigment
Pigment
A pigment is a material that changes the color of reflected or transmitted light as the result of wavelength-selective absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which a material emits light.Many materials selectively absorb...
along their sides and an iridescent green sheen along their backbone.
Ecology and behaviour
This species is associated with large swampSwamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
s, permanent dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
s, pond
Pond
A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
s and lakes (particularly ones with reeds) in woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
, shrubland
Shrubland
Shrubland, scrubland, scrub or brush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity...
, open and coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
al areas.
This frog is an agile climber, but is most often found amongst dense reeds or along swampy grasslands. This frog hunts and basks in the sun during the day. There are reports that Growling Grass frogs will hunt other frogs by zoning in to the sound of their calls.
The call is a three part moaning "Craw-ork ar-ar", rising and then falling in tone. (described as the sound of a duck or goose being strangled).The males develop black rough nuptial pad
Nuptial pad
A nuptial pad is a secondary sex characteristic present on some mature male frogs and salamanders. Triggered by androgen hormones, this breeding gland appears as a spiked epithelial swelling on the forearm and prepollex that aids with grip, used primarily by males to grasp females during amplexus...
s on their thumbs during the breeding season, which occurs during spring through to late summer. The 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...
(up to several thousand) are distributed in a loose pile. These frogs stay in tadpole stage for at least one year.
This frog is believed to be in decline across much of its range
Range (biology)
In biology, the range or distribution of a species is the geographical area within which that species can be found. Within that range, dispersion is variation in local density.The term is often qualified:...
. In some regions it has disappeared altogether, however in others it remains locally abundant (such as parts of northern Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and the Riverland in South Australia, associated with the Murray River).