Pelophylax nigromaculatus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Family: | Ranidae |
Genus: | Pelophylax |
Species: | P. nigromaculatus
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Binomial name | |
Pelophylax nigromaculatus (
Hallowell, 1861)
| |
Synonyms [2] | |
Rana nigromaculata Hallowell, 1861 "1860" |
Pelophylax nigromaculatus (formerly Rana nigromaculata), is a species of true frog found in East Asia, first described in 1861. This widespread and common frog has many common names, including dark-spotted frog, black-spotted pond frog, and black-spotted frog. [1] [2]
It occurs across much of mainland eastern-northeastern China, the Amur River valley in Russia, the Korean Peninsula (including Ulleungdo Island), [3] and most of Japan, with the exception of Hokkaidō. [2] [4] It has been considered the most-common of the true frogs on the Korean Peninsula, and has been hunted for food there for centuries, and, in modern times, used as an experimental animal. [5] There are also introduced populations in Turkmenistan, [4] Oahu, and Saipan. [6]
The dark-spotted frog is a relatively low-altitude species, not being found above 2200 m. It ranges across a variety of habitats, from deserts and bushland to meadows and forests, and is typically found in or near stagnant or slow-moving water. Although relatively tolerant of human interference, it is increasingly threatened by hunting and water pollution. [1]
Adult males measure about 62 mm (2.4 in) and females 74 mm (2.9 in) in snout–vent length. [7] The dorsal colouration varies from grey to greyish-olive, olive, and green. There are usually large dark spots, a light mid-dorsal line, and two lines on dorso-lateral folds. The belly is white. The toes are webbed. Males have a paired vocal sac and nuptial pads on the first finger. [4]
Mating season occurs soon after hibernation. Maturation probably occurs at an age of two years, and the total life span may reach 13 years. [4] The clutch size has been reported as 1800–3000 [1] or 600–5000 [4] eggs. The eggs are laid in shallow water. [1]
One species known to parasitize this frog is the opalinid Protoopalina pingi (in the rectum). [8]
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