Hylarana guentheri (Boulenger, 1882)
Family: Ranidae Barking Frog, Guenther’s Amoy Frog Status: Established This is the largest and most widespread frog in the Mariana Islands. The back of this frog is generally a uniform shade of brown bounded by two dorsolateral ridges. There is often a thin band of darker coloration below the dorsolateral ridges that is bordered below by white. In the area that is usually hidden by the thigh when the frog is at rest there is a reticulation of black/dark marks on a white field. The Skin is mostly smooth. Tadpoles can be large and are cinnamon to brown in color. There is a fine row of what appear to be glands between the eye and nostril. The dorsolateral ridges are evident on older tadpoles. Biology: This frog is found in association with almost any body of water and can travel great distances overland. The loud, single “bark” of the male’s call can be heard year round, but most breeding takes place in the wet season. Like the crab-eating frog, the barking frog is also apparently saline tolerant. Its diet in the Mariana Islands is unknown but it probably feeds on a variety of invertebrates. Distribution: The Barking frog is native to Viet Nam, and Southern and Central China including the island of Taiwan (IUCN Red List .org 30 Jan 2012) It has been established on Guam since at least 2003 (Christy et al. 2007) and since that time it has spread across the island. It is not known to occur on any other islands in the Marianas. Christy, M.T., C.S. Clark, D.E. Gee, D. Vice, D.S.Vice, M.P. Warner, C.L. Tyrell, G.H. Rodda, and J.A. Savidge. 2007. Recent Records of Alien Anurans on the Pacific Island of Guam. Pacific Science 61 (4) 469-483. |