Rana japonica Boulenger, 1879

Defining Characteristics

Defining characteristics of Rana japonica Boulenger, 1879 include a slender, reddish-brown body and a long, narrow head.

Male Size

On average, males have a snout-vent length of 48 mm (0.157 ft).

Female Size

Females are typically much larger than males, with an average snout-vent length of around 54 mm (0.177 ft).

Sexual Dimorphism

Neither males nor females have a vocal sac, but males develop yellowish-brown nuptial pads.

Mating Behavior

Males also sing during the January to March mating season, and their songs contain 10 to 20 notes.

Species Distribution

R. japonica is distributed from Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu in Japan to the southern region of China.

Habitat in Japan

In Japan, it mostly inhabits hillsides and plains, and is rarely found in mountain ranges.

Specific Habitats

It specifically lives in temperate grasslands, hillsides, plains, rivers, swamps, irrigated land, and seasonally flooded agricultural land.