First fossil record of the hylid frog Litoria raniformis (Keferstein)

1 Pages·1996·0.27 MB·English

by  Micahel J Tyler

Transactions ofthe Ruyat Society ofS. Aust. (1996). 120(2). 69.
BRIEF COMMUNICATION
FIRST FOSSILRECORD OFTHE HYLID FROG UTORIA RAN1FORMIS (KEFERSTEIN)
The Australian hylid frog Utoria ranijormis (Keferstein)
is a memberofa group ofsimilar species known as the L.
aurca complex1, and is one of the largest species in
Australia" (snout to vent length up to 104 mm). The
geographic rangeofthespeciesextendsfromSouthAustralia
throughVictoria,theACTandTasmanialoeasternNewSouth
Wales1 The species also has been introduced into New
Zealand and has become established there4
,
ssoeuIettmhih-naegsalsbyteeeirsnnaAabusssetonrutarlcfiearoowmfhesMruoerlpooretiehseneretehaxanttdasnutPlcsehyismatpolacatrengneecssspipteeeccsiieeissn Figa.sp1ecPtelvLiesngotfhexotfainltiuUmto=rta31ramnmi.jor(mPihsotfo:roPm. Kleefmt,psltateerr)al
have been found in abundance".
Here we report the first specimensofL ranijormis from
the fossil record. The ilial descriptive terminology follows
Tyler6
.
The largest and most complete specimen is a left ilium.
located in March 1995. from material extracted atthe East Salientfeaturesarethepoorlydevelopeddorsalprominence
Low' site at Henschke's Cave. SA (Lai. 36L"iR'-f)6, Long. and dorsal protuberance, only slight elevation ofthe dorsal
140^45' ^8). The specimen has been deposited in the acetabular expansion, a narrow and gently curved pre-
palaeontological collectionatthe South Australian Museum acetabular zoneandashallow longitudinal indentationupon
and registered as SAM P35305. The specimen has a length the lateral surface of the ilial shaft
of28.0nunwhich islessthantheknownmaximumilial length Werefertwootherpartial iliafromHenschke'sCavetothis
ofthe species (35 mm)5. However, it is larger than other species: SAM P32249 and P35306.
Pleistocene frog iliaknownfromtheareaanditsidentification The age of the deposit has been estimated to be from
has been confirmed by comparison with extant specimens, 35.00*/ lo 100.000y years. These papers, piovide informa-
an example of which is shown in Fig 1. SAM P353U5 is tiononthedepositional natureandsiratigraphic sequenceol
fragde and partly encrusted with matrix, hence Ihe extant the material.
specimen in more useful for identification purposes. A line We thank the Australian Research Council for funding
drawingofthesectionalformoftheiliumofthisspecieshas Michael Tyler's investigations of fossil frogs and Peter
been published elsewhere7, Dempster for Figure I.
'Tvler, M. J. & Davies,M. (1978) Aust J. Zool Suppl, 63, "McCann, C, (1961) Tuatara. 8(3), 107-120
147 -Tvler, M. J. (1977) Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust. 101(3), 85-89
:Tyler, M. J. (1978) "Amphibians of South Australia" °Tvlei; M. J. (1976) Ibid 101(1) 314.
(Handbooks Committee, Adelaide). 7Tvler, M. J. (1986) Alcheriiua 10. 40M02.
(TRyeleedr,,MMe.lbJo.ur(n1e9)9.4) 'Australian frogs. A natural history" u*BPaJrerdigee,, Ntt.JS..((11999801)) IMbeidm..10Q5l(i1i),Mu4s1-.472.8(1), 139-151.
MICHAELJ. TYLER, Department ofZoology, University ofAdelaide S. Aust. 5005. D. JOHN BARRIH, PO Box 227
Coonalpyn S. Aust. 5265 and RHYS W. WALKLEY, 48 Loan Street Black Rock Vic. 3193.