Marbled frog

For other uses, see Marbled frog (disambiguation).

The marbled frog or marbled marsh frog (Limnodynastes convexiusculus) is a species of ground-dwelling frog native to northern and north-eastern Australia, and southern New Guinea in both Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.^[1][2][3]

Marbled frog
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Limnodynastidae
Genus:	Limnodynastes
Species:	L. convexiusculus
Binomial name
Limnodynastes convexiusculus (Macleay, 1878)
Synonyms[2]
Ranaster convexiusculus Macleay, 1878 Limnodynastes olivaceus De Vis, 1884 Phanerotis novae-guineae Van Kampen, 1909 Ranaster olivaceus (De Vis, 1884)

It is not to be confused with the spotted grass frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis), which was also formerly known as the "marbled frog" in South Australia.^[4]

Description

Adult marbled frogs reach about 4.5 centimetres (1.8 in) in length, sometimes larger. Toes are long and unwebbed. Grey to light brown on back with numerous prominent darker blotches. The belly is white. Males have a yellowish throat and numerous small sharp black spines on their backs. When disturbed their skin excretes large amounts of mucus.

Ecology and behaviour

The marbled frog tends to be solitary inhabiting thick ground vegetation and is more often heard than seen. Males often call from hidden sites, usually partly submerged beneath vegetation. Its call has been described as "a rapid series of uk uk uks". Eggs are laid in a floating foam nest under vegetation and are small and brown. Tadpoles reach 7 centimetres (2.8 in) in length.

The marbled frog inhabits waterholes and pools in open grassland and woodland.