Italian stream frog

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.

Italian stream frog
Rana italica
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Ranidae
Genus:	Rana
Species:	R. italica
Binomial name
Rana italica Dubois, 1987
Synonyms[2]
Rana graeca italica Dubois, 1987 Rana (Rana) italica — Dubois, 1987 Rana italica — Picariello, Scillitani & Cretella, 1990 Rana (Laurasiarana) italica — Hillis & Wilcox, 2005

Description

Adults of R. italica have a head-body length of 7–7.5 cm (2.8–3.0 in). 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.^[3]

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".^[4]

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.^[1]