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Pepeketua

Ranoidea raniformis

Growling grass or Southern bell frog

 

LOCATION: Introduced species, south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. Found in Te Mata Park, especially in and around the Tauroa ponds.

DESCRIPTION: The southern bell frog is mainly green, with bronze markings and a warty back. The most aquatic of the three introduced frog species (the other two species are the whistling frog and the green and gold bell frog), it has webbing on its hind toes. It catches insects near water by flicking out its long, sticky tongue.

BEHAVIOUR: Their loud call can be heard in summer in damp areas anywhere in New Zealand. (Te Ara website)

Source: Chris Wedding

Frogs in New Zealand

It is most common to see introduced species of frogs in New Zealand, and very rare to see endemic frogs. Frogs that are native to New Zealand are among the world’s most ancient. Their ancestors were carried by continental drift from the supercontinent of Gondwana millions of years ago. In a family of their own (Leiopelmatidae), they differ from most other frogs in many respects:

  • They have no eardrums.
  • They have no vocal sac and do not call or croak, although they make quiet squeaks when disturbed.
  • They catch insects with their mouth, not with a long tongue.
  • They lay small numbers of large yolky eggs in moist places, but not in water.
  • Tadpoles grow inside the egg and hatch as tailed froglets – there is no free-swimming tadpole stage. (Te Ara)

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