Leiopelma waitomoensis explained

The Waitomo frog (Leiopelma waitomoensis) is an extinct species of the genus Leiopelma from New Zealand.^[1]

The Waitomo frog's distribution was solely in the North Island of New Zealand. Its extinction is believed to have happened during the last 1000 years.^[2] Its subfossil remains were discovered at a cave near Waitomo. L. waitomoensis was a large, robust frog, and presumably many times heavier than other native frogs.^[3] It was around 100 mm in length, about twice the size of any other native New Zealand frogs. It was first described by Trevor H. Worthy in 1987 along with the Aurora frog and Markham's frog.^[4]

See also

• List of amphibians of New Zealand
• List of extinct animals of New Zealand

Notes and References

1. Book: Conservation status of New Zealand amphibians, 2017. Burns. Rhys J.. Bell. Ben D.. Haigh. Amanda. Bishop. Phillip J.. Easton. Luke. Wren. Sally. Germano. Jennifer. Department of Conservation. August 2018. 9781988514680. Wellington, New Zealand. 5. 1052880982.
2. Worthy . Trevor H. . Palaeoecological information concerning members of the frog genus Leiopelma: Leiopelmatidae in New Zealand . Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand . 1987 . 17 . 4 . 409–420 . 10.1080/03036758.1987.10426482 . free .
3. Encyclopedia: Frogs in New Zealand . Paddy Ryan . 2012 . Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand . 27 January 2015.
4. Worthy. Trevor H.. Osteology of Leiopelma (Amphibia: Leiopelmatidae) and descriptions of three new subfossil Leiopelma species . Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand . 1987 . 17 . 3 . 201–251 . 10.1080/03036758.1987.10418160 .