Ranoidea verrucosa (Tyler & Martin, 1977)

Species Introduction

The rough frog (Ranoidea verrucosa, first described by Tyler & Martin in 1977) is a medium-sized burrowing frog species.

Size

Males measure 35–45 mm in body length, while females are slightly larger, ranging from 37–49 mm.

Base Body Colour

This stout-bodied frog typically has a base colour from grey-brown to olive brown.

Dorsal Patterning

Its back is irregularly patterned: either dark green spots on a tan background, or black or dark grey markings on a pale brown background.

Dorsal Stripe

Both colour variants have a thin pale cream stripe that runs along the entire middle of the back from head to rump.

Ventral Colouration

The belly is pale whitish, and breeding males have a grey throat.

Lip Markings

The edge of the upper lip is brown, marked with white flecks.

Lateral Head Band

A broad dark band runs along each side of the nose, continues behind the eye, and then blends into the patterning along the frog’s flanks.

Dorsal Skin Texture

As its common name suggests, the rough frog has skin with a rough, warty or ridged texture.

Throat Skin Texture

Males have a finely granular throat, while female throats are smooth.

Distinguishing Skin Feature

This rough skin texture sets the rough frog apart from all other frog species that live in its native geographic area.

Limb and Burrowing Adaptations

Its toes are one-third webbed, and it has a shovel-shaped inner metatarsal tubercle that helps it burrow into soil.

Geographic Distribution

The rough frog occurs across northern New South Wales and into south-eastern Queensland, Australia, where it is not found along the coast or in mountain ranges.

Habitat Types

It inhabits areas with clay soils, around seasonal ponds, creeks and claypans, in both open grassland and closed or open woodland.

Significant Habitat Areas

Roadside reserves are counted as significant habitat areas for the species.

Dry Period Behavior

During dry periods, the rough frog stays dormant underground, and only emerges after heavy rain.

Lifespan Knowledge

Very little is known about the rough frog’s lifespan.

Breeding Period

It breeds in flooded depressions from spring to summer, and sometimes in autumn, always following heavy rain.

Male Mating Call

Males produce mating calls that sound like a long moaning growl.

Reproduction Research Status

There is very little published data on the species’ reproduction, but it is thought to be similar to that of Litoria cultripes.

Related Species Egg Laying

In Litoria cultripes, eggs are laid in large clumps under the surface of water in temporary ponds, swamps or roadside ditches.

Larval Characteristics

Rough frog larvae are free-swimming; tadpoles can reach up to 7.5 cm in length, and are dull gold or white in colour.

Tadpole Development

It is not known exactly how long tadpoles take to develop into frogs, but they develop rapidly during warm months before the temporary water they live in dries up.