Tapping the tadpole, Cophixalus infacetus

Detailed introduction

The Tapping Nursery Frog ( Cophixalus infacetus ) is a small, secretive native Australian frog, belonging to the genus Cophixalus in the family Microhylidae. It is a typical "nursery frog," not reproducing in large open bodies of water, but rather completing the development of its eggs and larvae in moist, secluded terrestrial locations. It is a very unique group of frogs in the tropical mountain forest ecosystem.

Classification and nomenclature

• Chinese reference name: Knocking Frog (general translation);

• English name: Tapping Nursery Frog;

• Scientific name: Cophixalus infacetus ;

• Family: Microhylidae → Genus: Cophixalus

Appearance and Identification Features

The tapping frog is small in size, but its head and body are relatively "full," making it a typical small forest terrestrial frog.

• Size: Adults are generally about 1.5–2.5 cm in length, belonging to the very small frogs;

• Body shape: Short and round body, relatively wide head, and slightly short and blunt snout;

• Back color: mostly brown, grayish-brown or yellowish-brown, often with irregular patterns or dark cloud-like spots, which helps to camouflage in the leaf litter.

• Eyes: Relatively large eyes, which is advantageous for movement in dim forest environments;

• Abdomen: The abdomen is lighter in color, and may be light gray, milky white or pale yellow.

• Skin texture: The skin on the back has slight small warts or a grainy texture, but is not rough overall;

• Limbs: The limbs are relatively slender, and the tips of the fingers and toes may be slightly enlarged, which is helpful for moving on damp fallen leaves and moss;

• Overall impression: A small frog, its body size and color close to that of fallen leaves, easily overlooked if not carefully observed.

Distribution range and habitat

The knocking brood frog is a species endemic to the tropical montane rainforests of northeastern Australia .

• Mainly distributed in the mountainous and hilly rainforest regions of northeastern Queensland;

• It is commonly found in humid forests at low to medium altitudes.

Typical habitat characteristics include:

• Tropical rainforests or cloud forests that are humid year-round, with a thick layer of fallen leaves and moss under the trees;

• The accumulation of fallen logs, tree roots, rock crevices, and humus provides it with tiny hiding spaces;

• High humidity and relatively stable temperature are conducive to the development of eggs in a terrestrial environment.

Lifestyle

The tapping frog is a nocturnal, terrestrial frog with a relatively small range of activity .

• During the day, they mostly hide in piles of fallen leaves, moss, under fallen logs, or in crevices in rocks, making them difficult to spot;

• They come out at dusk and night, slowly crawling or hopping around in the leaf litter and among tree roots to forage for food.

• They generally do not stray far from damp, small-scale understory habitats and are more sensitive to dryness and strong light.

vocal characteristics

The English name "Tapping Nursery Frog" comes from its unique call:

• The call of male frogs is often described as a sound similar to tapping wood or stone, such as "tok... tok... tok..." or "tup... tup...".

• Its calls have a strong rhythm, like a continuous "knocking sound," and are especially clear in the quiet rainforest night;

• They typically vocalize more frequently on damp, rainy nights or during the breeding season, often calling near the ground or low-lying shelters.

feeding habits

The tapping frog primarily feeds on very small invertebrates:

• Small insects and their larvae, such as ants, small beetles, and springtails;

• Small arthropods that inhabit leaf litter and moss;

• They ambush tiny prey that pass by by moving slowly through the micro-environment of the forest.

Reproduction and characteristics of "raising tadpoles"

A notable characteristic of the genus *Rana* is that it does not rely on large bodies of water and often completes its development on land ; *Rana pulverata* also exhibits a similar characteristic.

• The breeding season usually coincides with the local wet season and peak rainfall.

• Male frogs attract female frogs by calling out in damp leaf litter, around tree roots, or near rock crevices.

• Female frogs lay their eggs in damp but not waterlogged, secluded locations, such as piles of fallen leaves, under moss, or in layers of humus.

• Eggs develop in high humidity environments, and many frog species that raise their young have a pattern close to "direct development": the embryo does not go through the typical free-swimming tadpole stage, and the larva completes most of the metamorphosis process in the egg, and is close to the morphology of a small frog when it hatches.

• This "terrestrial brooding" method greatly reduces dependence on open water bodies and is a special adaptation to the microenvironment of the rainforest floor.

Protecting the status quo and threats

In global assessments, the knocking brood frog is generally considered to be at a relatively low threat level (e.g., Least Concern or near Least Concern) , but due to its limited distribution range and high dependence on moist forests, long-term monitoring is still required.

Potential threats include:

• Deforestation and habitat fragmentation in tropical rainforests have led to a reduction in suitable understory microenvironments;

• Invasive species and diseases (such as fungal diseases that affect amphibians) may impact small frog populations;

• Climate change is altering rainfall patterns, affecting the humidity and stability of mountain rainforests.

Protecting montane rainforests, controlling invasive species, monitoring amphibian diseases, and limiting disturbance to key habitats can help maintain healthy populations of knocking tadpoles and other tadpoles in the long term.