Anstisia vitellina explained

Anstisia vitellina, commonly known as the orange-bellied frog, is a species of frog in the family Myobatrachidae. It is endemic to a 20 hectare area near Margaret River in Southwest Australia. It is vulnerable to extinction due to fire and the destruction of habitat caused by feral pigs.

Taxonomy

It was formerly classified in the genus Geocrinia, but was reclassified into the new genus Anstisia in 2022.^{[1] [2]}

Description

G. vitellina is very similar in appearance to the white-bellied frog (A. alba); having spots of dark brown on a light brown or grey back, with has a snout–vent length of 17–24 mm.^[3] The underparts, however, are paler and vivid orange in the front.

Environment and ecology

The species occupies an area of 20 ha, the smallest of any Australian mainland vertebrate, across a range of 6.3 km² around Witchcliffe. This narrow range is confined to swampy areas near creeklines. Six creeks on the Blackwood River, Western Australia have been found to provide appropriate habitat.

Populations are isolated due to breeding behaviour and a small individual range - unusual for frog species. A call is given in spring and early summer with a series of 9–15 pulses only just discernible. Eggs are laid in depressions, surrounded by a jelly mass. Without feeding or swimming, the tadpoles progress to an adult stage.

Threatened status

The small range of this species has made it vulnerable to threats such as fire and 'wild pigs', water solutionism through agricultural runoff, and changes to the hydrology of the riparian habitat through land-use.

References

• Web site: Orange-bellied and White-bellied Frogs Recovery Plan 1999-2001 . 2007-04-13 . Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) . Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) . December 1994 . Australian Government . Recovery plan objectives: Downlisting to conservation dependent (Orange-bellied Frog) and vulnerable (White-bellied Frog) within ten years by protecting existing populations and, if necessary, establishing additional populations. .
• Book: Burbidge, Andrew A . Threatened animals of Western Australia . 2004 . Department of Conservation and Land Management . 0-7307-5549-5 . 131 . 7. Amphibians . The school of Animal Biology UWA has conducted considerable research into the species. ... Pig control is being undertaken by local people.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Anstisia Webster and Bool, 2022 Amphibian Species of the World . 2022-08-02 . amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org.
2. Webster . Grant N. . Bool . Ian . 2022-06-14 . A new genus for four myobatrachid frogs from the South Western Australian Ecoregion . Zootaxa . en . 5154 . 2 . 127–151 . 10.11646/zootaxa.5154.2.2 . 1175-5334. free . 36095631 .
3. "Cophixalus hosmeri (SVL = 17 mm) and Geocrinia vitelline (SVL = 18 mm), with mean clutch sizes of only 6 and 11 eggs, respectively." Gould . John . Beranek . Chad . Valdez . Jose . Mahony . Michael . 2020 . Quality versus quantity: The balance between egg and clutch size among Australian amphibians is related to life history and environmental conditions . bioRxiv . 10.1101/2020.03.15.992495 . 214726013 . May 3, 2020.