Last week we began an information report about any animal native to New Zealand. This week I finished it and edited it. I put a lot of work into researching and editing my information report. My animal was the Hochstetter’s frog which got their name from Ferdinand von Hochstetter.
Here is my information report
Have you ever heard of Hochstetter’s frog? Do you know how they got their name? Hochstetter’s frog, also known as Pepeketua, are one of the four frogs in the family Leiopelmatidae and have some of the most ancient features in any remaining frogs alive globally. The Hoschstetter frogs are a prehistoric and primitive group of frogs, their features have barely changed in 70 million years. Pepeketua are indigenous to New Zealand.
https://www.tewhakakahatrust.org.nz/hochstetter-frog/
Physical features
Pepeketua males are smaller compared to females, most males grow up to 38mm (1.5 inches) while females grow to around 50mm (2.0 inches). These frogs are nocturnal meaning they come out at night and stay under refuge during the day. Pepeketua likes to hide in moist crevices under rocks and logs beneath shaded areas. They can camouflage into their habitats because of their appearance. Pepeketua can blend into the trees and match the mossy tones of their environment. They have hues of greenish-brown or brownish-red, they also have biscotti (a yellowish-brown color) or hazelnut colored bellies. Sometimes they can have dark bands and warts around their bodies.
Habitats
Hochstetter frogs live semi-aquatic lives, spending their time near stream-edges. They were widespread throughout the South and North islands several years ago but their population declined over the past 200 years. Pepeketua are now sighted around the upper half of the North island, they are also spotted around Waipu, the Great Barrier island, and the Raukumara ranges. Ten populations of these frogs have been found to be genetically distinct, due to the history of glacial isolation.
Threats and predators
Hochstetter frogs are highly vulnerable to invasive species such as rodents. Rats, goats, and pigs have caused a massive decline in the Hochstetter frogs population. The Polynesian rats that were brought to New Zealand by the Maori people caused an extinction of Pepeketua in the South island and a destruction of Populations in the North island over a few years. Pepeketua are also extremely sensitive to the disease in the air because they absorb chemicals through their semi-permeable skin. Agriculture and deforestation can cause issues in water quality.
Diet
Hochstetter frogs feed on invertebrates such as worms, spiders, beetles, mites, snails, and other insects. They are carnivores and nocturnal hunters meaning they hunt in the night. Like most frogs, Hochstetter frogs will generally eat invertebrates that are still alive. Once they have their prey they use their arms to hold the insect and gulp down. When the food passes through the frogs mouth into the stomach, the food moves into the small intestine, where most of the digestion happens. Large digestive glands, the liver and the pancreas, are all attached to the digestive system by ducts. Pepeketua can’t extend their tongues meaning they lack the ability to catch prey by sticking out their tongue.
Linnaean classification of the Pepeketua
Kingdom: Animal
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Leiopelmatidae
Genus: Leiopelma
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hochstetter%27s_frog
https://savethefrogs.com/wp-content/uploads/pepeketua-nz-native-frogs-lowres.pdf
https://www.google.com/search?q=hochstetter%27s+frog&rlz=1CAOFBT_enNZ1097&oq=&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCQgAEEUYOxjCAzIJCAAQRRg7GMIDMgkIARBFGDsYwgMyCQgCEEUYOxjCAzIJCAMQRRg7GMIDMgkIBBBFGDsYwgMyCQgFEEUYOxjCAzIJCAYQRRg7GMIDMgkIBxBFGDsYwgPSAQk1Mjg1OGowajeoAgiwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on