Ryukyu Kajika Frog
| Buergeria japonica | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Rhacophoridae |
| Genus: | Buergeria |
| Species: | B. japonica |
| Binomial name | |
| Buergeria japonica (Hallowell, 1861) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Ixalus japonicus Hallowell, 1861 | |
The Ryukyu Kajika frog, Japanese Buerger's frog, or Japanese stream treefrog (Buergeria japonica) is a species of frog in the Rhacophoridae family. It is found in the Ryukyu Islands (Japan) and in Taiwan.[2]
Habitat
Buergeria japonica is a common species that occurs in a wide variety of habitats (rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, freshwater springs, geothermal wetlands, irrigated land, and canals and ditches). It is locally threatened by habitat loss.[1]
Description
Buergeria japonica is a small to medium-sized frog, about 3 cm (1.2 in) snout-vent length in males.[3]
Reproduction
Buergeria japonica normally breed in slow-moving water in ditches and small streams. However, some Taiwanese populations also breed in geothermal hot springs. In this habitat, frogs can breed throughout the year. Another advantage is that high temperature facilitates growth; furthermore, competition may be reduced in this unusual habitat.[4] Tadpoles can tolerate water temperatures up to about 42 °C (108 °F), however, few tadpoles enter areas of pools where temperature exceeds 37 °C (99 °F).[5]
References
- 1 2 Lue, Kuangyang; Chou, Wenhao; Kaneko, Yoshio & Matsui, Masafumi (2004). "Buergeria japonica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2013). "Buergeria japonica (Hallowell, 1861)". Amphibian Species of the World 5.6, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ↑ Lue, Kuang-Yang. "Rhacophorus japonica". BiotaTaiwanica. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ Chen, Te-Chin; Yeong-Choy Kam; Yao-Sung Lin (2001). "Thermal physiology and reproductive phenology of Buergeria japonica (Rhacophoridae) breeding in a stream and a geothermal hotspring in Taiwan". Zoological Science 18 (4): 591–596. doi:10.2108/zsj.18.591.
- ↑ Wu, Chi-Shiun; Yeong-Choy Kam (2005). "Thermal tolerance and thermoregulation by Taiwanese rhacophorid tadpoles (Buergeria japonica) living in geothermal hot springs and streams". Herpetologica 61 (1): 35–46. doi:10.1655/04-50.