Maud Island frog: Difference between revisions

The Maud Island frog (Leiopelma pakeka) is a New Zealand primitive frog, one of only four belonging to the ancient family Leiopelmatidae and found only on two islands in the Marlborough Sounds area at the north of the South Island of New Zealand - Maud Island and Motuara Island.

It does not have webbed feet, but has atavistic tail-wagging muscles although it does not have a tail. The eyes are round, not slit, and there is no external eardrum. It does not go through a tadpole stage, but instead develops totally within a gelatinous capsule derived from an egg, and therefore does not need standing or running water for reproduction. The male Maud Island frog may carry his young offspring around on his back. Maud Island frogs live in burrows under boulders and are very dependent on a damp environment, and quickly dry out and die if placed in a dry place.

Apart from their rarity Maud Island frogs are hard to locate as they are well camouflaged, live underground, are nocturnal, and do not croak. They are generally dark brown blotched with light brown, with dark speckles.

Up to 1996 the Maud Island frog was only found on Maud Island. A transfer was made that year of some 300 frogs to Motuara Island, 25 km away in Queen Charlotte Sound, to reduce the possibility of an ecological disaster in the original 25 ha site wiping out the entire species.

Transfer

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