Philoria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Philoria
Sphagnum frog (Philoria sphagnicolus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Limnodynastidae
Genus:	Philoria Spencer, 1901
Diversity
6 species
Philoria range.

Philoria is a special group of frogs found only in eastern and southern Australia. These frogs are quite unique! They all live high up in the mountains. Five of their species are found in the mountains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. One species lives further south in Victoria.

Sadly, almost all Philoria frogs are in danger. Most are listed as endangered, meaning there aren't many left. The Baw Baw frog is even more at risk. It is listed as critically endangered. This means it faces an extremely high chance of disappearing forever.

These frogs are small to medium-sized. They love to live in very wet places. You can often find them in sphagnum bogs. These are marshy areas with special moss. They also live in wet spots on rocky slopes where water seeps out.

Life Cycle and Habits

Philoria frogs have a unique way of raising their young. They lay their eggs in foam nests. These nests are carefully hidden away from light. The nests keep the eggs safe and moist.

The tadpoles of these frogs are also special. They stay inside the nest. They do not swim around in open water like most tadpoles. Instead, they live entirely on the yolk from their eggs. This yolk provides all the food they need to grow.

Different Kinds of Philoria Frogs

Some scientists who study animals (called taxonomists) group these frogs a little differently. They believe only the Baw Baw frog (Philoria frosti) should be in the Philoria group. They think the other five species belong to a different group called Kyarranus.

This idea comes from looking at their bones. It also comes from differences in their size. The Baw Baw frog is usually larger than the others. Plus, the Baw Baw frog has a large gland behind each eye. This gland is called a parotoid gland. These features help scientists decide how to classify them.

Species of Philoria

There are six known species in the Philoria group:

See also

In Spanish: Philoria para niños