Taudactylus
Encyclopedia
Taudactylus is a genus of frog
s in the family Myobatrachidae
. These frogs are endemic to rainforest areas of coastal eastern Australia
, most of this genus inhabit fast flowing streams in highland area. Most members of this genus have suffered serious declines, in which the disease chytridiomycosis
appears to have played a significant role: T. dirunus is believed to be extinct, while all others except T. liemi are listed as critically endangered
by the IUCN. These listings are conservative, and it is likely T. acutirostris, presently listed as critically endangered, already is extinct.
They are distinguishable from other Australian myobatrachid by the T-shaped pad at the end of each finger and toe. They are all small frog reach no larger than 40 mm in length. The fingers and toes are unwebbed and the skin is generally smooth. The tympanum
is large and is either visible or hidden. They lack vocal sacs but all species are known to call. The Eungella Torrent Frog
is the only known Myobatrachid known to show its presence by the movement of its body.
Of the six species in the genus Taudactylus, one of the most primitive groups of frogs in Australia, two are restricted to the Wet Tropics of Queensland. T. rheophilus had been recorded only from the Bellenden Ker Range, Lamb Range, Carbine Tableland and Thornton Peak
, all recognised refugial areas but has suffered massive declines over its entire former range. Prior to 1988, T. acutirostris occurred in upland streams throughout the World Heritage Area. However, it has since suffered a dramatic decline in numbers and its status is considered critical (Ingram and McDonald 1993)The catastrophic amphibian declines which have occurred in the Wet Tropics has recently been attributed to an amphibian fungal disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Mixophyes is represented in the Wet Tropics by M. schevilli, the Northern Barred Frog. Molecular studies have shown M shevilli to represent three species, each well differentiated (Donnellan et al. 1993).
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...
s in the 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...
. These frogs are endemic to rainforest areas of coastal 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...
, most of this genus inhabit fast flowing streams in highland area. Most members of this genus have suffered serious declines, in which the disease chytridiomycosis
Chytridiomycosis
Chytridiomycosis is an infectious disease of amphibians, caused by the chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a non-hyphal zoosporic fungus. Chytridiomycosis has been linked to dramatic population declines or even extinctions of amphibian species in western North America, Central America, South...
appears to have played a significant role: T. dirunus is believed to be extinct, while all others except T. liemi are listed as critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
by the IUCN. These listings are conservative, and it is likely T. acutirostris, presently listed as critically endangered, already is extinct.
They are distinguishable from other Australian myobatrachid by the T-shaped pad at the end of each finger and toe. They are all small frog reach no larger than 40 mm in length. The fingers and toes are unwebbed and the skin is generally smooth. 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 large and is either visible or hidden. They lack vocal sacs but all species are known to call. The Eungella Torrent Frog
Eungella Torrent Frog
The Eungella Torrent Frog is a species of stream dwelling frog endemic to Australia. It is restricted to ranges west of Mackay in mid-eastern Queensland.-Physical description:...
is the only known Myobatrachid known to show its presence by the movement of its body.
Of the six species in the genus Taudactylus, one of the most primitive groups of frogs in Australia, two are restricted to the Wet Tropics of Queensland. T. rheophilus had been recorded only from the Bellenden Ker Range, Lamb Range, Carbine Tableland and Thornton Peak
Thornton Peak
Thornton Peak is a prominent mountain that rises above the Daintree Rainforest to a height of 1374 m. The mountain is located about 32 km northwest of Cairns within the catchment of the Daintree River....
, all recognised refugial areas but has suffered massive declines over its entire former range. Prior to 1988, T. acutirostris occurred in upland streams throughout the World Heritage Area. However, it has since suffered a dramatic decline in numbers and its status is considered critical (Ingram and McDonald 1993)The catastrophic amphibian declines which have occurred in the Wet Tropics has recently been attributed to an amphibian fungal disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Mixophyes is represented in the Wet Tropics by M. schevilli, the Northern Barred Frog. Molecular studies have shown M shevilli to represent three species, each well differentiated (Donnellan et al. 1993).
Species
| Common name | Binomial name |
|---|---|
| Sharp-snouted Torrent Frog | Taudactylus acutirostris |
| Mount Glorious Torrent Frog | Taudactylus diurnus (extinct) |
| Eungella Torrent Frog Eungella Torrent Frog The Eungella Torrent Frog is a species of stream dwelling frog endemic to Australia. It is restricted to ranges west of Mackay in mid-eastern Queensland.-Physical description:... |
Taudactylus eungellensis |
| Liem's Frog | Taudactylus liemi |
| Kroombit Tinker Frog Kroombit Tinker Frog The Kroombit Tinker Frog or Pleione's Torrent Frog is a species of frog in the Myobatrachidae family. It is endemic to south-eastern Queensland in Australia... |
Taudactylus pleione |
| Tinkling Frog | Taudactylus rheophilus |