Pilbara Toadlet
Encyclopedia
The tiny Pilbara Toadlet (Uperoleia saxatilis) is a species of frog
in the Myobatrachidae
family. It is endemic to the arid Pilbara region of Western Australia
. It is only about 2 centimeters long, has large glands, and is covered with brown spots. It is a burrowing frog and was found in rocky gorges and creeks in the Pilbara following cyclonic rains.
The Pilbara Toadlet has been recently identified as a new species through research work using DNA analysis to differentiate between frog species that look very similar by researchers from the Australian National University
in Canberra, and the Western Australian Museum
and University of Western Australia
in Perth
.
It eats termites and small insects it finds underground. Its closest relative is thought to be the Mole Toadlet
(Uperoleia talpa), which looks very similar but has a higher-pitched and more intense call.
A doctoral candidate from the ANU
, Renee Catullo, said: "The good news is that it appears to be secure from a conservation perspective ... Toadlets are native to Australia and this new species brings the total number to 27, the second-largest group of frog species in the country." They sit in the rocks in places where "they can amplify and direct their call to the females".
The discovery was part of a research project that uses genetic analysis to try to understand the true number of species of toadlets as DNA can be used to differentiate between species of frog that look very similar and are difficult to tell apart. "They tell themselves apart by their different calls, but we're not so good at that", Catullo says.
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
in the Myobatrachidae
Myobatrachidae
Myobatrachidae is a family of frogs found in Australia and New Guinea. Members of this family vary greatly in size, from species less than long, to the second largest frog in Australia, the Giant Barred Frog , at in length...
family. It is endemic to the arid Pilbara region of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. It is only about 2 centimeters long, has large glands, and is covered with brown spots. It is a burrowing frog and was found in rocky gorges and creeks in the Pilbara following cyclonic rains.
The Pilbara Toadlet has been recently identified as a new species through research work using DNA analysis to differentiate between frog species that look very similar by researchers from the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in Canberra, and the Western Australian Museum
Western Australian Museum
The Western Australian Museum is the state museum for Western Australia.The Western Australian Museum has seven main sites: two in Perth within the Perth Cultural Centre, two in Fremantle , and one each in Albany, Geraldton, and Kalgoorlie-Boulder...
and University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
.
It eats termites and small insects it finds underground. Its closest relative is thought to be the Mole Toadlet
Mole Toadlet
The Mole Toadlet is a species of frog in the Myobatrachidae family.It is endemic to Western Australia.Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland....
(Uperoleia talpa), which looks very similar but has a higher-pitched and more intense call.
A doctoral candidate from the ANU
Anu
In Sumerian mythology, Anu was a sky-god, the god of heaven, lord of constellations, king of gods, Consort of Antu, spirits and demons, and dwelt in the highest heavenly regions. It was believed that he had the power to judge those who had committed crimes, and that he had created the stars as...
, Renee Catullo, said: "The good news is that it appears to be secure from a conservation perspective ... Toadlets are native to Australia and this new species brings the total number to 27, the second-largest group of frog species in the country." They sit in the rocks in places where "they can amplify and direct their call to the females".
The discovery was part of a research project that uses genetic analysis to try to understand the true number of species of toadlets as DNA can be used to differentiate between species of frog that look very similar and are difficult to tell apart. "They tell themselves apart by their different calls, but we're not so good at that", Catullo says.