Italian stream frog explained

The Italian stream frog (Rana italica), also called the Italian frog, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. The species is endemic to Italy and San Marino.

Description

Adults of R. italica have a head-body length of 7–. The hind legs are long, but not extremely so. If the hind leg is pressed forward along the body, the "heel" (tibio-tarsal articulation) does not extend beyond the snout. There are pearly granules on the ventral surfaces of the hind legs.^[1]

Vocalization

The male R. italica calls only underwater. Calls are usually inaudible to a human listener, unless the calling frog is only slightly below the surface. Three different calls are known: a low repeated "grongron", a modulated "squack", and a short "uh".^[2]

Habitat

The natural habitats of R. italica are rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes.

Conservation status

R. italica is threatened by habitat loss.

Further reading

• Dubois A (1987) ("1985"). "Notes sur les grenouilles brunes (groupe de Rana temporaria Linné, 1758). IV. Note préliminaire sur Rana graeca Boulenger, 1891 ". Alytes, Paris 4: 135–138. (Rana graeca italica, new subspecies). (in French).

Notes and References

1. Vanni S, Nistra A (2006). Atlante degli Anfibi e dei Rettili della Toscana. Florence: Università degli studi di Firenze, Museo di storia naturale sezione di zoologia La Specola. 379 pp. (in Italian).
2. Razzetti, Edoardo; Sacchi, Roberto; Platz, James E. (2006). "First description of the acoustic repertoire of Rana italica (Anura, Ranidae)". Herpetological Journal 16: 229-231.