GreenTenetDescription and features
The turtle frog (Myobatrachus gouldii) is the only member of the monotypic genus Myobatrachus. Outwardly, this amphibian really doesn’t look much like a frog. It has a disproportionate body size: the head and paws are very small, and the convex body looks quite impressive in comparison. These small frogs grow up to 4.5 centimeters. Their large and rounded body resembles the shape of a turtle shell, and their head is similar to the muzzle of a turtle. It is for their incredible resemblance to a turtle, which, for some unknown reason, has lost its shell, that these amphibians received their name, the turtle frog. In addition to their body shape and light brown coloration, turtle frogs have in common with reptiles of the same name their manner of digging in sandy soil. Unlike other toads, turtle frogs burrow into the sand not with their hind legs but with their front legs, burying their heads first. Their short but strong front legs are an excellent tool for catching termites, which are the main food of turtle frogs.
Lifestyle and nutrition
These unusual amphibians spend almost their entire lives underground, in cozy burrows. And only after rain do turtle frogs usually come to the surface. They don’t like coming to the surface so much that turtle frogs even eat termites when they approach them from underground. They have an excellent appetite, and any adult can easily consume about four hundred termites a day.
Habitat
The turtle frog is endemic to Australia and is most widespread in its western part. It cannot be said that the population of these unusual animals is small, since their number is at least 50 thousand. These strange amphibians can be found under fallen trees, in sandy soil, or in other land-based shelters, usually away from water. They are also found in forest and shrub zones on sandy soils. They love to bury themselves in the sand, and even their reproduction process takes place there.
Reproduction
Female and male individuals hide in the sand, where they mate and spawn. At a time, the female lays from 15 to 20 large eggs with a diameter of 5-7 millimeters. It is surprising that the full development of tadpoles occurs right in the egg, from which a full-fledged frog is born.
