Buergeria japonica (Hallowell, 1861)

Species Identification

Buergeria japonica is a small to medium-sized frog species.

Male Adult Size

Adult males have a snout-vent length of around 3 cm (1.2 in).

Habitat Range

This species is common, and can be found in a wide range of habitats including rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, freshwater springs, geothermal wetlands, irrigated land, canals, and ditches.

Local Threats

It is locally threatened by habitat loss.

Typical Breeding Habitat

Buergeria japonica normally breeds in slow-moving water within ditches and small streams.

Taiwan Population Breeding

Some populations native to Taiwan, however, also breed in geothermal hot springs.

Geothermal Habitat Breeding Period

In this geothermal habitat, frogs can breed year-round.

Geothermal Habitat Advantages

High temperatures in these environments speed up tadpole growth, and these unusual habitats also tend to have lower levels of competition.

Tadpole Temperature Tolerance

Tadpoles of this species can tolerate water temperatures up to approximately 42 °C (108 °F), but few tadpoles enter pool areas where temperatures exceed 37 °C (99 °F).