View source for Rough frog

{{Short description|Species of amphibian}}
{{other uses}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Cyclorana_verrucosa.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=Jean-Marc Hero, John Clarke, Ed Meyer. |year=2004 |title=''Litoria verrucosa'' |volume=2004 |page=e.T41078A10397162 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T41078A10397162.en |access-date=15 September 2022}}</ref>
| genus = Ranoidea (genus)
| species = verrucosa
| authority = ([[Michael J. Tyler|Tyler]] and {{interlanguage link|Angus Anderson Martin|fr|lt=Martin}}, 1977)
| synonyms = {{species list
| Cyclorana verrucosus | Tyler and Martin, 1977<ref name=":4"/>
| Cyclorana verrucosa | (Tyler and Martin, 1977)
| Litoria (Cyclorana) verrucosa | (Tyler and Martin, 1977)
| Dryopsophus verrucosus | (Tyler and Martin, 1977) }}
| synonyms_ref = <ref name=Frost/>
| range_map = Cyclorana verrucosa Distribution Map.png
| range_map_caption =Map of Australia showing the distribution of rough frog
}}
The '''rough frog''' ('''''Ranoidea verrucosa'''''), also known as the '''woodland water-holding frog''', '''warty water-holding frog''', and '''red-backed cyclorana''', is a species of [[Tree frog|treefrog]] native to northern [[New South Wales]] and south-eastern [[Queensland]], Australia.<ref name="Frost" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Cogger|first=H|title=Reptiles and amphibians of Australia|publisher=CSIRO Publishing|year=2018|isbn=978-1-48-630969-6}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last1=Barker|first1=J|title=A Field Guide to Australian Frogs|last2=Grigg|first2=GC|last3=Tyler|first3=MJ|publisher=Beatty & Sons|year=1995|isbn=0-949324-61-2|location=Surrey}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Australian Museum|date=2021|title=Cyclorana verrucosa|url=https://www.frogid.net.au/frogs/cyclorana-verrucosa|access-date=10 June 2021}}</ref><ref name="Frogs of Australia"/>
== Taxonomy ==
The rough frog was originally [[species description|described]] as ''Cyclorana verrucosus'' by Tyler and Martin in 1997,<ref name=":4"/><ref name=Frost/> and later placed in the genus ''[[Litoria]]''.<ref name=Frost/>
==Description==
[[File:Cyclorana verrucosa1.jpg|thumb|Rough frog displaying the tan and dark brown colour variation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to our new Bio-Expertise Engine|url=https://bee.questagame.com/#/profile/11351?questagame_user_id=11351&_k=vzll2j|access-date=2021-06-14|website=bee.questagame.com}}</ref>]]
The rough frog is a medium-sized burrowing frog. Male frogs reach between 35–45&nbsp;mm in body length and females are slightly larger at 37–49&nbsp;mm in length.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
This stout frog is typically grey-brown to olive brown in colour.<ref name=":0" /> Its back is irregularly marked with dark green spots on a tan background, or black/dark grey on a pale brown background.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> Both colour variations have a thin pale cream coloured stripe that runs along the middle of the back from front to rear.<ref name=":2" /> The belly is pale whitish colour, and the male has a grey throat.<ref name=":2" /> The edge of the upper lip is brown with white flecks.<ref name=":0" /> A broad dark band runs either side of the nose and continues behind the eye before merging with the patterns along the side body.<ref name=":0" />
As per its namesake, the rough frog's skin has a rough, warty or ridged texture.<ref name="Frogs of Australia">{{Cite web|last=Frogs of Australia|date=2021|title=Cyclorana verrucosa - Rough Frog |work=Frogs of Australia |url=https://frogs.org.au/frogs/species/Cyclorana/verrucosa/|access-date=10 June 2021}}</ref> The throat of the male is finely granular, but the female's throat is smooth.<ref name=":0" /> The rough skin distinguishes it from all other frogs that live within its geographical area.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book|author=Tyler, Michael J.|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1114290166|title=Field guide to the frogs of Australia|date=March 2020|publisher=CSIRO |isbn=978-1-4863-1245-0|oclc=1114290166}}</ref>
Toes are one-third webbed.<ref name=":0" /> The inner metatarsal tubercle is shovel-shaped to assist in burrowing.<ref name=":0" />
== Distribution and habitat ==
The rough frog can be found near seasonal ponds, creeks and claypans in open grassland and closed or open woodland on clay soils.<ref name=IUCN/><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":7" /> It is distributed across Northern NSW into south-eastern Queensland, but not along the coast or in the ranges.<ref name=":0" /> It spends dry periods underground in dormancy and emerges following heavy rain. Roadside reserves are considered as significant habitat areas.<ref name=IUCN />
==Behaviour==
Little is known regarding the behaviour of the rough frog. It is a burrowing frog that will burrow during dry periods, and emerge to breed and feed after extended periods of rain.<ref name=":2" />
== Lifespan and reproduction ==
Little is known about the rough frog's lifespan. It breeds in flooded depressions during spring to summer, and sometimes in autumn, after heavy rains.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=IUCN /><ref name=":0" /> Males sound mating calls that resemble a long moaning growl.<ref name=":7" /> Very little data exists regarding reproduction of the Rough Frog, however it is conserved to be similar to ''Litoria cultripes'', in which eggs are laid in large clumps under the surface of water in temporary ponds, swamps or roadside ditches.<ref name=":2" /> [[Larva]]e are free swimming, [[tadpole]]s can grow as long as 7.5&nbsp;cm being a dull gold/white in colour.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=IUCN /> It is unknown how long they take to develop into frog, but they develop rapidly during warm months before water drys up.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|date=2006-10-02|title=Frogs Australia Network - Australian Frog Database - Cyclorana verrucosa - Rough Collared Frog|url=http://www.frogsaustralia.net.au/frogs/display.cfm?frog_id=129 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061002040240/http:/www.frogsaustralia.net.au/frogs/display.cfm?frog_id=129 |archive-date=2006-10-02 |access-date=2021-06-15}}</ref>
== Conservation ==
The rough frog is defined as [[Least-concern species|Least Concern]] on IUCN's Red List.<ref name=IUCN /> The population is stable. There are conservation sites throughout the habitat range of the frog, and it currently occurs in at least one protected area. [[Habitat fragmentation|Fragmentation]] of population is limited, but there is a continuing decline is area and quality of habitat.<ref name=IUCN />
[[Agriculture]] and [[aquaculture]] including annual and perennial non-timber crops are identified as threats to the rough frog. Future development in south-eastern Queensland may also pose a threat.<ref name=IUCN /> Direct human impact, urbanisation, tourism and inappropriate catchment management, including the degradation of water quality are also threats to the persistence of this species.<ref name=":8" />
==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=Frost>{{cite web |url=https://amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org/Amphibia/Anura/Hylidae/Pelodryadinae/Ranoidea/Ranoidea-verrucosa |title=''Ranoidea verrucosa'' (Tyler and Martin, 1977) |author=Frost, Darrel R. |year=2022 |work=Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1 |publisher=American Museum of Natural History |doi=10.5531/db.vz.0001 |access-date=15 September 2022}}</ref>
<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Tyler |first1=MJ |last2=Martin |first2=AA |date=1977 |title=Taxonomic studies of some Australian leptodactylid frogs of the genus ''Cyclorana'' Steindachner |journal=Records of the South Australian Museum |volume=17 |pages=261–276 }}</ref>
}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q4665015|from2=Q24813134}}
[[Category:Ranoidea (genus)]]
[[Category:Frogs of Australia]]
[[Category:Endemic fauna of Australia]]
[[Category:Amphibians of Queensland]]
[[Category:Amphibians of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Amphibians described in 1977]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Michael J. Tyler]]