description Northern Gastric Brooding Frog Overview
An extinct Queensland frog (Rheobatrachus vitellinus) discovered in 1984 and never seen again after that year, the second of only two known gastric-brooding frog species.
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Northern Gastric Brooding Frog ranks #27 of 213 in the Amphibian ranking, behind Reticulated Glass Frog, ahead of Titicaca Water Frog.
Second gastric-brooding species, abrupt extinction, high scientific intrigue despite brief known history.
help Northern Gastric Brooding Frog FAQ
How did the northern gastric-brooding frog reproduce?
After fertilization, the female swallowed the eggs and brooded the developing young inside her stomach. Her digestive activity was suppressed during gestation, and fully formed froglets later emerged through her mouth.
Where was Rheobatrachus vitellinus found?
The species lived in rainforest streams in Queensland's Eungella region. It had a very restricted range and was discovered by scientists only in 1984.
Was the northern gastric-brooding frog last seen in the year it was discovered?
No, although it was discovered in 1984, records place its disappearance after that year, with the last confirmed observations generally reported in the mid-1980s. It was never found again despite later searches in the Eungella ranges.
What probably caused the northern gastric-brooding frog's extinction?
Chytridiomycosis, caused by the amphibian chytrid fungus, is considered a leading explanation for its rapid disappearance. The related southern gastric-brooding frog also vanished, leaving no living species in the genus Rheobatrachus.
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