F;(:OtrOOY, RYHTCMATICB A N D RVOIAYMON OF AUSTRALIAN "ROO8 66
larval !ife, phywiology (tdc?mnc.u bu heat or wator deprivation), and
hchnvioor (burrowing) might all contxibute to persistence of the population. It i H unlikely that any one attribute Huoh aa burrowing is absolutely neoeRsary for survival under arid conditions. Burrowing, high
TABLE V
Hanks of 14 species of f r q s scored for presumed adaptadion to desert conditions.
Final razks wtw obtained by sunini ing the ranks achieved by each specien for the
following: fecundity (most fecund = highest rank = 1, h u t fecund = lowast
rank); k?cgth of larval life (shortest = highest rank); Rize at metamorphis
(largest = highest rank); adult body size (largest = hiqhest rank); body water
( m a t = highest rank); per cent water lost to death ( m t = highat rank); rate
of hydration (fastest = highest rank); burrow depth (deepest = highest rank,
nme = lowest rank). When available information wae inaufiient to separate
species they were ranked as equals. For the above attributes Notaden nichollsi
ranked a8 follows: 1, 1, 7,3,8, 7 , 4, 1, and sum of r a n b 26. This was the lowest
total and so N . nichollsi ranks as 1. Neobatrachue wilsmorei scored a total of
27 and ;bus raaks seeotut, uthble Crinia georgiana s m e d a total of 57 and thus
ranks last in terms of preeumed aduptation to desert conditwma
Lowest rainfall in
B d b g
geographic range
siimmor, s;
Rank
Species
(in./annum; 1 in.
winter, w
= 25.4 mm) and
habitat
3
Hylacaerulea
4
Neobatrachua centralis
5
Cyclorama platyccphrrlua
Heleaopcnue albopunctalua
HeteiopOrua arustraliaezlr,
' Heleioporw, eyrei
' I ~ ~ i o p o n u ,
inornntw,
9
Heletbporua pammophiluu
10
Nwbatrachue peloba.toideti
10 Dune sand8 with Triodiu
8 Clay pane in mulga sorub
20 Tropical riparian wood5 Desert clay pans with
on desert loam
land
mallee
10 Desert clay pans
12 Water c o w flowing in
15 Marshes filled i n winter
8 Clay pana on desert loems
30 Stmama on western edge
20 Marshes filling in winter
20 Sandy peat bogs
25 Sandy seeps free water in
winter
10 Clay pans filled in winter.
In low rainfall part of
range water derived by
run-off from adjacent
winter
of Darling Plateau
1alge
rocks
30 Forest
8
S
8
8
6
W
W
8
W
W
W
W
W
W
larval !ife, phywiology (tdc?mnc.u bu heat or wator deprivation), and
hchnvioor (burrowing) might all contxibute to persistence of the population. It i H unlikely that any one attribute Huoh aa burrowing is absolutely neoeRsary for survival under arid conditions. Burrowing, high
TABLE V
Hanks of 14 species of f r q s scored for presumed adaptadion to desert conditions.
Final razks wtw obtained by sunini ing the ranks achieved by each specien for the
following: fecundity (most fecund = highest rank = 1, h u t fecund = lowast
rank); k?cgth of larval life (shortest = highest rank); Rize at metamorphis
(largest = highest rank); adult body size (largest = hiqhest rank); body water
( m a t = highest rank); per cent water lost to death ( m t = highat rank); rate
of hydration (fastest = highest rank); burrow depth (deepest = highest rank,
nme = lowest rank). When available information wae inaufiient to separate
species they were ranked as equals. For the above attributes Notaden nichollsi
ranked a8 follows: 1, 1, 7,3,8, 7 , 4, 1, and sum of r a n b 26. This was the lowest
total and so N . nichollsi ranks as 1. Neobatrachue wilsmorei scored a total of
27 and ;bus raaks seeotut, uthble Crinia georgiana s m e d a total of 57 and thus
ranks last in terms of preeumed aduptation to desert conditwma
Lowest rainfall in
B d b g
geographic range
siimmor, s;
Rank
Species
(in./annum; 1 in.
winter, w
= 25.4 mm) and
habitat
3
Hylacaerulea
4
Neobatrachua centralis
5
Cyclorama platyccphrrlua
Heleaopcnue albopunctalua
HeteiopOrua arustraliaezlr,
' Heleioporw, eyrei
' I ~ ~ i o p o n u ,
inornntw,
9
Heletbporua pammophiluu
10
Nwbatrachue peloba.toideti
10 Dune sand8 with Triodiu
8 Clay pane in mulga sorub
20 Tropical riparian wood5 Desert clay pans with
on desert loam
land
mallee
10 Desert clay pans
12 Water c o w flowing in
15 Marshes filled i n winter
8 Clay pana on desert loems
30 Stmama on western edge
20 Marshes filling in winter
20 Sandy peat bogs
25 Sandy seeps free water in
winter
10 Clay pans filled in winter.
In low rainfall part of
range water derived by
run-off from adjacent
winter
of Darling Plateau
1alge
rocks
30 Forest
8
S
8
8
6
W
W
8
W
W
W
W
W
W