Litoria raniformis
Copyright © Graeme Gillespie
Litoria raniformis tadpole
Copyright © Marion Anstis
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Litoria raniformis
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Status
IUCN Classification:
Endangered
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Bioregion occurrence:
(this is not a distribution map)
State occurrence:
Links
- Growling Grass Frog
Frogs of Australia page on Litoria raniformis
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Litoria raniformis
Family: Hylidae
Common names: Growling Grass Frog; Southern Bell Frog; Green or Warty Swamp Frog
Description: This frog ranges from brown, dull olive to bright emerald green on its back with large brown, golden, black or bronze spots. A pale stripe runs down the spine. The back is also covered in large warts, tubercles (lumps) and skin folds. A dark streak runs from the snout, over the eye and tympanum (tight membrane covering the entrance to the ear). Above this streak a cream skin fold runs down to the groin. Another pale stripe runs from below the eye to the base of the arm. The groin and the backs of the thighs are bright blue, occasionally with yellow flecks. The belly is coarsely granular and white. The toes are nearly fully webbed.
Size: 80 mm
Habitat: This frog lives in permanent water bodies that have lots of vegetation such as ponds, swamps, lagoons and dams.
Call: Short grunts "crok-crok" followed by a slow "craw-craw-crawk".Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © Ron Nagorcka.
Breeding: Males call after rain in spring, summer and autumn while afloat amongst vegetation. Breeding mainly occurs in spring and summer.
Eggs: Are large and laid in fluid clusters at the surface in shallow water. They are often attached to vegetation and may sink.
Tadpoles: Are large and initially are dark in colour. As they develop the body wall becomes yellow and an iridescent green pigment forms over the brain and spine. These tadpoles dart into deeper water when disturbed.
Similar species: This frog can be distinguished from Litoria aurea by the warts and tubercles on its back. It can also be separated from Litoria castanea by its lack of large yellow spots in the groin and on the backs of the thighs.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Inappropriate catchment management, including degraded water quality
- Exotic predators (e.g. trout, Gambusia)
- Herbicides, insecticides, eutrophication due to excessive nutrients
- Disease/pathogens (e.g. chytrid fungus, viruses)
- Habitat modification (e.g. vegetation clearing, invasive weeds)
Population size: An estimate of the total number of adults present in the species entire range is >50000 individuals. Some factors affecting population size and distribution are known, but 1 or more major factors are unknown.
Population trend in Australia over the past 50 years: Population size known to be decreasing.
Knowledge of population trend in Australia: Monitored locally.
Population concentration: Not known to concentrate or exist in discrete locations. (e.g. the number of sites in which individuals group together either seasonally, such as breeding sites, or they may occupy discrete habitat patches within the broader landscape, such as discrete water bodies or drainage units.)
Ongoing management activities in Australia: Management mostly related to enforcement of conservation laws.
Reproductive potential for recovery: The average number of eggs deposited per adult female per year is >1000 eggs/female/year. Minimum age at which females are known or suspected to first reproduce is 2-3 years.
Range size in Australia: The size of the geographic area over which the taxon is distributed: > 1,000,000 km².
Distribution trend: Area occupied has declined by 25-74%. (This is an estimate of change in the portion of the total range that is occupied or utilised; it may not equal the change in total range.)
Knowledge of distribution in Australia: Broad range limits or habitat associations are known, but local occurrence cannot be predicted accurately.
References
Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney.
Barker, J., G.C. Grigg and M.J. Tyler. 1995. A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty & Sons: Chipping Norton.
Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. Reed Books: Sydney.
Robinson, M. 2002. A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia. Australian Museum/Reed New Holland: Sydney.