List of amphibians of New Zealand

All of the amphibians of New Zealand are either from the endemic genus Leiopelma or are one of the introduced species, of which three are extant. Pepeketua is the eponymized Māori word.[1][2][3]

Hochstetter's frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri).

Unique characteristics

Members of the genus Leiopelma exhibit a number of basal traits that separate them from most other species. These traits include: vestigial tail-wagging muscles, cartilaginous inscriptional ribs, the presence of amphicoelous vertebrae, and nine presachral vertebrae (most frogs have eight). In addition, Leiopelma lack external ear drums and produce only limited vocalizations.

Species

Native

Scientific name Common name Image
Leiopelma archeyi Archey's frog
Leiopelma hamiltoni Hamilton's frog
Leiopelma hochstetteri Hochstetter's frog
Leiopelma pakeka Maud Island frog
Leiopelma auroraensis Aurora frog EX
Leiopelma markhami Markham's frog EX
Leiopelma waitomoensis Waitomo frog EX

Introduced

Scientific name Common name Image
Litoria aurea Green and golden bell frog
Litoria raniformis Growling grass frog
Litoria ewingii Southern brown tree frog
Litoria caerulea Australian green tree frog
Limnodynastes dumerilii Eastern banjo frog

See also

References

  1. pepeketua - Māori Dictionary http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/word/5496
  2. 09 October 2012 http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/in-our-nature/7787401/Our-fascinating-frogs
  3. Ryan, Paddy. "Frogs in New Zealand". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 July 2012.

Further reading

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