Taudactylus

Taudactylus
Eungella torrent frog, Taudactylus eungellensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Myobatrachidae
Subfamily: Myobatrachinae
Genus: Taudactylus
Straughan & Lee, 1966
Species

6 species (see text)

Range of Taudactylus

Taudactylus is a genus of frogs in the family Myobatrachidae.[1][2] These frogs are endemic to rainforest areas of coastal eastern Australia, most of this genus inhabit fast flowing streams in highland area. Most members of this genus have suffered serious declines, in which the disease chytridiomycosis appears to have played a significant role: T. diurnus is believed to be extinct, while all others except T. liemi are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. These listings are conservative, and it is likely T. acutirostris, presently listed as critically endangered, already is extinct.[3]

They are distinguishable from other Australian myobatrachids by the T-shaped pad at the end of each finger and toe. They are all small frog and reach no larger than 40 mm in length. The fingers and toes are unwebbed and the skin is generally smooth. The tympanum is large and is either visible or hidden. They lack vocal sacs but all species are known to call. The Eungella Torrent Frog is the only known Myobatrachid known to show its presence by the movement of its body.

Of the six species in the genus Taudactylus, one of the most primitive groups of frogs in Australia, two are restricted to the Wet Tropics of Queensland. T. rheophilus had been recorded only from the Bellenden Ker Range, Lamb Range, Carbine Tableland and Thornton Peak, all recognised refugial areas but has suffered massive declines over its entire former range. Prior to 1988, T. acutirostris occurred in upland streams throughout the World Heritage Area. However, it has since suffered a dramatic decline in numbers and its status is considered critical.[4] The catastrophic amphibian declines which have occurred in the Wet Tropics have been attributed to an amphibian fungal disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Frost was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference AmphibiaWeb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Schloegel, Lisa M.; Hero, Jean-Marc; Berger, Lee; Speare, Rick; McDonald, Keith & Daszak, Peter (2006). "The decline of the sharp-snouted day frog (Taudactylus acutirostris): the first documented case of extinction by infection in a free-ranging wildlife species?". EcoHealth. 3 (1): 35–40. doi:10.1007/s10393-005-0012-6. S2CID 11114174.
  4. ^ Ingram, Glen J. & McDonald, Keith R. (1993). "An update on the decline of Queensland's frogs". In Daniel Lunney & Danielle Ayers (eds.). Herpetology in Australia. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. pp. 297–303. doi:10.7882/RZSNSW.1993.044. ISBN 0-9599951-8-8.