Ecology, Systematics and Evolution of Austrafian Frogs
A . R. MAIN
Zoolosy Department, University of Westem Australia
Nedlands, Wesiern Auatdia
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I. INTRODUCTION
Neither Salamanders nor Caecelians are known from Australia and
' the Amphibia are represented by the Anura alone. In this respect the
Amphibians conform to the unbalanced representation so characteristic
of the Australian fauna as a whole. Frogs, a8 would be expected, have
radiated to fill all the ecological places available. However, $8 the interior of Australia is climatically desert or semi-arid it is surprising to
find that frogs 1mve invaded this region also. Naturally one ten& to
wonder how such wide distribution is poeeible and whether desert frogs
differ markedly in physiology and ecology from those present in more
humid Areas.
The poasibility that desert, frogs differ markedly from those from areas
of higher and more reliable rainfall will depend, of course, on the age of
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