Ryukyu Kajika Frog
The Ryukyu Kajika frog, Japanese Buerger's frog, or Japanese stream treefrog (Buergeria japonica) is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is found in the Ryukyu Islands (Japan). Populations from northern Taiwan and the Yaeyama Islands were isolated as a new species(Buergeria choui) in 2020.[2]
| Ryukyu Kajika Frog | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| 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 | |
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
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2021). "Buergeria japonica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T178958094A63849195. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T178958094A63849195.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- 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. S2CID 54171906.
- 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. JSTOR 3893558. S2CID 2868703.