Limnodynastes Explained

Limnodynastes (commonly known as the Australian swamp frogs) is a genus of frog native to Australia, southern New Guinea and some Torres Strait Islands. They are ground-dwelling frogs, with no toe pads. The size varies from 45 mm to 90 mm in the giant banjo frog. The webbing on the feet ranges between species, from very little, to almost complete. The tympanum is not visible in any species, except in the woodworker frog, which is sometimes classed in a separate genus Megistolotis. All species construct a foam nest in which the eggs are laid. However, in south-eastern South Australia female striped marsh frog and spotted grass frog lack the flanges of skin on the hands that helps trap the air bubble and do not construct foam nests.

Species

Following a major revision of amphibians in 2006,[1] two species, the ornate burrowing frog, Opisthodon ornatus and Spencer's burrowing frog, Opisthodon spenceri, were moved to the resurrected genus Opisthodon. This reduced the number of member species to eleven.

Common nameBinomial name
Marbled frogLimnodynastes convexiusculus
Flat-headed frogLimnodynastes depressus
Western banjo frog
or Pobblebonk
Limnodynastes dorsalis
Eastern banjo frogLimnodynastes dumerilii
Long-thumbed frogLimnodynastes fletcheri
Giant banjo frogLimnodynastes interioris
Woodworker frogLimnodynastes lignarius
Striped marsh frog
or brown-striped frog
Limnodynastes peronii
Salmon-striped frogLimnodynastes salmini
Spotted grass frogLimnodynastes tasmaniensis
Northern banjo frogLimnodynastes terraereginae

Notes and References

  1. Frost. D. R.. Grant. T.. Faivovich. J.. Bain. R. H.. Haas. A. . Haddad. C. F.. 2006. The amphibian tree of life. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 297. 297. 1–370. 10.1206/0003-0090(2006)297[0001:TATOL]2.0.CO;2. etal.