Taudactylus

Taxobox
name = "Taudactylus"

---

image_caption = Eungella Torrent Frog, "Taudactylus eungellensis"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Amphibia
ordo = Anura
familia = Myobatrachidae
genus = "Taudactylus"
genus_authority = Straughan & Lee, 1966
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "See text."
range_

range_map_caption = Range of "Taudactylus"

"Taudactylus" is a genus of frogs in the family Myobatrachidae. These frogs are endemic to rainforest areas of coastal eastern Australia, most of this genus inhabit fast flowing streams in highland area. Most members of this genus have suffered serious declines, in which the disease chytridiomycosis appears to have played a significant role: "T. dirunus" is believed to be extinct, while all others except "T. liemi" are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. These listings are conservative, and it is likely "T. acutirostris", presently listed as critically endangered, already is extinct. [Schloegel, Hero, Berger, Speare, McDonald, & Daszak. 2006. "The decline of the Sharp-snouted Day Frog (Taudactylus acutirostris): The First Documented Case of Extinction by Infection in a Free-Ranging Wildlife Species?" EcoHealth 3: 35-40. [http://www.conservationmedicine.org/papers/Schloegel_etal_Tacuti_ECH_06.pdf PDF available] ]

They are distinguishable from other Australian myobatrachid by the T-shaped pad at the end of each finger and toe. They are all small frog reach no larger than 40 mm in length. The fingers and toes are unwebbed and the skin is generally smooth. The tympanum is large and is either visible or hidden. They lack vocal sacs but all species are known to call. The Eungella Torrent Frog is the only known Myobatrachid known to show its presence by the movement of its body.

Of the six species in the genus Taudactylus, one of the most primitive groups of frogs in Australia, two are restricted to the Wet Tropics of Queensland. T. rheophilus had been recorded only from the Bellenden Ker Range, Lamb Range, Carbine Tableland and Thornton Peak, all recognised refugial areas but has suffered massive declines over its entire former range. Prior to 1988, T. acutirostris occurred in upland streams throughout the World Heritage Area. However, it has since suffered a dramatic decline in numbers and its status is considered critical (Ingram and McDonald 1993)The catastrophic amphibian declines which have occurred in the Wet Tropics has recently been attributed to an amphibian fungal disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Mixophyes is represented in the Wet Tropics by M. schevilli, the Northern Barred Frog. Molecular studies have shown M shevilli to represent three species, each well differentiated (Donnellan et al. 1993).

pecies

References