by University of Australia
A tree Frog is Slender. H.B. Hines is credited.
Scientists from the University ofNewcastle, Australian Museum, South Australian Museum, andQueensland National Parks and Wildlife have found and described two new frog species from eastern Australia.
The Screaming Tree Frog can be found in New South Wales, but it is only found in Victoria.
The new frog species was described with the help of citizen scientists and their recordings through the Australian Museum's FrogID app.
The FrogID project's lead scientist said that the Bleating Tree Frog is well known to residents along the east coast of Australia for its loud, piercing, almost painful call.
"These frog bachelors are loud when they are trying to impress their mates," he said.
The FrogID project received many calls from across the state.
Their calls are different in how long, how high-pitched and how fast they fire. The Slender Bleating Tree Frog has the shortest, most rapid-fire and highest pitched calls.
Professor Steven Donnellan is the Chief Research Scientist of Evolutionary Biology at the South Australian Museum.
The frogs are very different in appearance and sound. Professor Donnellan said he was amazed that it had taken so long to discover that the loudest frog in Australia is not one but three species.
How many species in the quiet achiever category are waiting for their scientific debut?
The three species are different in appearance. The Slender Bleating Tree Frog is slender in appearance, has a white line extending down its side, and males have a black vocal sac.
The Screaming Tree Frog has a bright yellow vocal sac, but it doesn't have the white line extending down its side. The entire body of males of the Screaming Tree Frog tend to turn a lemon yellow in the breeding season.
The Screaming Tree Frog has a brownish vocal sac that turns a dull yellow or brown when fully inflated, while the Robust Bleating Tree Frog has a brownish vocal sac that turns a dull yellow or brown when fully inflated.
The three closely related species are relatively common and widespread, according to Professor Michael Mahony of the University ofNewcastle's School of Environmental and Life Sciences.
"They are all at least somewhat tolerant of modified environments, being recorded as part of the FrogID project relatively often in backyards and paddocks, as well as more natural habitats," Professor Mahony said.
The total number of native frog species in Australia is now 246, including the recently recognized Gurrumul's toadlet and the Wollumbin pouched Frog.
The research and help from citizen scientists highlights the valuable contribution that everyone can make to better understand and conserve our frog.
Two new frog species from eastern Australia have been published in Zootaxa. There is a book titled "zootaxa.5071.1.1."
The journal contains information about Zootaxa.
The University of Australia in Australia.
There was a surprise discovery of two new frog species on November 22, 2021.
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