Pelophylax nigromaculatus (Hallowell, 1861)

Sexual Dimorphism Overview

Pelophylax nigromaculatus, also called the dark-spotted frog, has distinct physical size and appearance traits between adult sexes.

Adult Size

Adult males reach a snout–vent length of around 62 millimetres (2.4 inches), while adult females reach approximately 74 millimetres (2.9 inches).

Dorsal Coloration

Dorsal body colour ranges from grey to greyish-olive, olive, or green.

Dorsal Markings

Individuals usually have large dark spots on the back, a light mid-dorsal line, and two additional lines along the dorso-lateral folds.

Ventral Coloration & Webbing

The belly is white, and the toes are fully webbed.

Male Secondary Sexual Traits

Mature males have a paired vocal sac, plus nuptial pads on the first finger.

Mating Timing

This species mates soon after hibernation ends.

Maturity & Lifespan

Individuals likely reach sexual maturity at two years of age, and the maximum recorded total lifespan is 13 years.

Clutch Size

Reported clutch sizes fall into two ranges: 1800 to 3000 eggs, or 600 to 5000 eggs.

Oviposition Habitat

Females lay clutches of eggs in shallow water.

Prey Resistance & Diet

This frog is unaffected by venom from the Asian giant hornet, which it preys on and consumes.

Known Parasites

The opalinid parasite Protoopalina pingi is known to infect this frog species.

Elevation Range

The dark-spotted frog is a species that occurs at relatively low altitudes, and it has not been recorded at elevations above 2200 metres.

Terrestrial Habitat Types

It occupies a wide variety of habitat types, including deserts, bushland, meadows, and forests.

Aquatic Habitat Association

It is almost always found in or located close to stagnant or slow-moving water.

Threats

While it has a relatively high tolerance for human disturbance, populations are increasingly threatened by hunting for human use and water pollution.