Main's frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Olive water-holding frog |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ranoidea
|
| Species: |
maini
|
 |
|
| This frog lives in places where it is hard to live. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Main's water-holding frog (Ranoidea maini) is a type of frog found in Australia. It is also known as Main's frog, the sheep frog, or western collared frog. You can find this special frog in the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Western Australia.
This frog is known for living in tough places. It can survive in areas like floodplains, dry claypans, grasslands, and wetlands that often dry up.
Contents
About the Main's Water-Holding Frog
What It Looks Like
The Main's water-holding frog is about 5.0 cm (2 inches) long. It has a round body. Its skin is usually gray or brown with darker spots or marks.
Interestingly, some of these frogs can change their skin color. They can become much lighter in just a few hours! Their front feet do not have webs, but their back feet are webbed about halfway.
Where It Lives
This frog is very good at living in places where water isn't always around. It lives in areas that can be very dry for long periods. When there is enough rain, these areas fill with water, and that's when the frogs become active.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The Main's water-holding frog lays its eggs whenever there is enough water. This usually happens after heavy rains. The tadpoles grow into young frogs very quickly. This fast growth helps them survive before their watery homes dry up again.
Why the Name?
This frog was named after a scientist who studied frogs, Albert Main. He was a herpetologist, which is a person who studies amphibians and reptiles.
