Rana longicrus

Rana longicrus, also known as the Taipa frog or long-legged brown frog, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is distributed to northern and central Taiwan.[2]

Rana longicrus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ranidae
Genus: Rana
Species:
R. longicrus
Binomial name
Rana longicrus
Stejneger, 1898

Description

Rana longicrus is a slender-bodied frog with relatively long legs. Males measure 42–56 mm (1.7–2.2 in) and females 58–65 mm (2.3–2.6 in) in snout–vent length.[3]

Reproduction

The breeding season in Aoti, northern Taiwan, is from November to March. The smallest mature male measured 33 mm (1.3 in) SVL and smallest gravid female 32 mm (1.3 in) SVL. Both sexes appear to reach this size by the end of their first year. Peak breeding occurred in December but is probably influenced by rain. Egg clutches of 600-2,000 eggs are laid in water. Metamorphosis occurs after about two months. However, survival to metamorphosis is low because of disturbance by human activities (plowing of ricefields) and by the desiccation.[4]

Diet

Rana longicrus feed primarily on arachnids and insect larvae and adults (often ants or beetles). In winter when they spend more time near water also crustaceans are eaten.[4]

Habitat and conservation

Rana longicrus occurs in subtropical broad-leaf forests as well as cultivated fields below 1,000 m (3,300 ft) elevation. Breeding takes place in marshes, pools, and ponds. It is threatened by habitat loss, in particular due to infrastructure development, but also pollution. It is currently protected in the Yangmingshan National Park.[1]

References
  1. Lue Kuangyang & Chou Wenhao (2004). "Rana longicrus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T58646A11819392. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T58646A11819392.en.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Rana longicrus Stejneger, 1898". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  3. Chen, Wang-Shi (2014). 台灣33種蛙類圖鑑 [33 Taiwan Frogs]. Wild Bird Society of Taipei. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-986-90650-0-9.
  4. Kam, Yeong-Choy; Wang, Chin-Shian & Lin, Yao-Sung (1995). "Reproduction and diet of the brown frog Rana longicrus in Taiwan" (PDF). Zoological Studies. 34 (3): 193–201.
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