axolotl-danio Posted December 28, 2009 Report Share Posted December 28, 2009 I raised four of these from tadpoles and they are in a 150 litre aquarium outside with plants, rocks and wood. I know they are either green and golden bell frogs or southern bell frogs. They have just morphed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axolotl-danio Posted December 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axolotl-danio Posted December 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axolotl-danio Posted December 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2009 Will they survive in an outside tank in nelson? They have been ok so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted December 28, 2009 Report Share Posted December 28, 2009 The pictures are not very clear but going by the fourth pic the lateral line looks broken which would indicate that they could be southern bells. If they are, then they will survive, but the aurea have been introduced pretty well all over NZ but only survive in the top of the North Island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axolotl-danio Posted December 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 If it makes any difference they are changing colour a lot. One was on a peice of wood and was brown the other was on a plant and was bright green. Later on both of them were dark green. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GGBELL Posted December 29, 2009 Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 Definitely Litoria Aurea. No sign of bumpy skin is the give away. The pictures are not very clear but going by the fourth pic the lateral line looks broken which would indicate that they could be southern bells. If they are, then they will survive, but the aurea have been introduced pretty well all over NZ but only survive in the top of the North Island. The breaking up of the green patterns indicates that its not getting enough uv rays. Its common in NZ to indentify L.Raniformis with its green dorsal line running down its back, however in Australia this is not a comprehensive way to distinguish the two species. Also I have a relative who has Litoria Aurea just north of Foxton and have also seen one on the Kapiti Coast however this was at a plant shop so it was most probably been transported down from up North. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axolotl-danio Posted December 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 Is there any way I can help them survive outside (in a covered tank). They have been fine so far but I suspect that they would not do so well over winter. How important is UV light because the tank is in the shade? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted December 29, 2009 Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 you can`t really make such a definative statement on a froglet that has just morphed?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axolotl-danio Posted December 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 Well They will probably be fine over summer and then I will take some more photos and see what everybody thinks they are then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 i would lean toward southern bell but as repto said hard to tell when just morphed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 The breaking up of the green patterns indicates that its not getting enough uv rays. Its common in NZ to indentify L.Raniformis with its green dorsal line running down its back, however in Australia this is not a comprehensive way to distinguish the two species. Also I have a relative who has Litoria Aurea just north of Foxton and have also seen one on the Kapiti Coast however this was at a plant shop so it was most probably been transported down from up North. interesting about not getting enough uv rays. i just thought thats what southern bells looked like, wheras the aurea have more defined markings and no line on back. in regards to the green line it seems to also depend on what camo the bell wants to show whether or not this will even be visible. so maybe those aussies just need to be more observant :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkfur Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 I have been lead to believe there is some difference in the texture of the skin between the two species. I think it is L.raniformis which is bumpier although in a froglet this is probably of no use in identification Just out of interest does anyone know if they hybridise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 With their outlook on life---"if you can't mate with it then eat it", there is probably more of the latter going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkfur Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 that's what I figured, since we have moved them out of their natural geographical range. Would be interesting if someone did a genetic study, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of NZ frogs are hybrids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Just out of interest does anyone know if they hybridise? i suspect its possible but the frogs ive seen around do seem to be either one species or the other. i tried to bred southerns with aurea and had them doing everything accept laying eggs. maybe just not time but within a day of getting rid of the southern males and adding more aurea i had fertile spawn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 Just a teaser? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GGBELL Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 Here's a Southern Bell i came across down here in Kapiti region from one of our wetland sanctuaries, Notice the frog is still absorbing its tail, but has distinctive bumps on its back. I would suspect there is a greater risk of hybridization more north where the two species inter mix. It is known to happen in Australia but is rare as they come from different regions, L.Raniformis South Australia and Tasmania, L.Aurea NSW. Unlike here wheres its more geographically insignificant. I would also expect that the Australians would have more knowledge in these species as they are native there and highly endangered. Another photo with a L.Raniformis with no green dorsal line, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkfur Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 that Kapiti frog sure looks intermediate between the species to me, a real stump the experts one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GGBELL Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 that Kapiti frog sure looks intermediate between the species to me, a real stump the experts one It could be, however i had the advantage of seeing and hearing Southern Bells where i found this fella. Here's what i would call a Green/Golden Bell (about 1 month old) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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