Middle Back-stripe Bullfrog
Kaloula mediolineata
A specialized microhylid frog (6.5 cm) native to Indochina (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia). Characterized by its distinct cream-yellow longitudinal stripe running down the center of its back and fossorial, leaf-litter dwelling habits.
Umgebung
Terrestrisch
Luftfeuchtigkeit
65 - 80 %
Tagestemperatur
27 °C
Nachttemperatur
22 °C
Umgebungstemperatur
27 °C
Mindestgehäuse
>= 45 L
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to Indochina (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia). It primarily occurs in open humid savannas and dry deciduous forests, emerging in massive numbers during monsoons. It lives mostly concealed within leaf litter or burrowed inside moist soils.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the Microhylidae family, genus Kaloula. This group consists of narrow-mouthed frogs highly adapted to specific fossorial or semi-arboreal microhabitats.
Behavior and Habits: Primarily nocturnal and secretive. It spends the daytime hours buried under the substrate or hidden beneath leaf litter, emerging to forage and breed during heavy seasonal rains.
Morphology: Features a plump, rounded body reaching about 6.5 cm. Skin texture ranges from smooth to warty with cryptic colors. Males are smaller than females and exhibit distinct vocal sacs during the breeding season.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Terrarium Setup: Provide a horizontal terrarium with a deep (10-15 cm) layer of loose, damp substrate such as coconut fiber and sterile peat moss. Add cork bark hides, dry leaves, and flat shelters to create shaded spots.
Lighting and Heating: Maintain daytime temperatures around 27.0°C and night temperatures at 22.0°C. Provide a 12-hour light cycle; a low-intensity UVB source is recommended to support general health.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain relative humidity between 65.0% and 80.0%. Mist regularly with dechlorinated water and supply a very shallow water dish to prevent drowning risks.
Feeding and Supplementation: Strictly insectivorous. Offer gutloaded crickets, roaches, fruit flies, and small worms. Dust prey with high-quality calcium and vitamin D3 twice a week to support skeletal structure.
Compatibility: Best kept in a species-specific setup. Small groups of similar size can cohabitate, avoiding competition or accidental cannibalism.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly susceptible to bacterial skin infections (red leg disease) if ventilation is poor or the substrate is soiled. Regularly check skin condition and hydration levels.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
Native to Indochina (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia). It primarily occurs in open humid savannas and dry deciduous forests, emerging in massive numbers during monsoons. It lives mostly concealed within leaf litter or burrowed inside moist soils.
Ursprung
Süd- und SüdostasienOstasien
Amphibienprofil
- Diät
- Insectivore
- The Middle Back-stripe Bullfrog feeds voraciously on ground-dwelling insects, primarily targeting ants and termites. It emerges during the wet season to actively forage, using its sticky tongue to quickly consume large numbers of prey. Its robust body allows it to consume slightly larger beetles as well.
- Lebenserwartung
- 5-6 years
- Erwachsenengröße
- 7.5 cm
- Lebensstil/Mikrohabitat
- Fossorial
- Predominantly fossorial. They use hardened spades on their hind feet to burrow effectively into soft, moist soil.
- Aktivitätszyklus
- Nocturnal
- They are strongly nocturnal, hiding deep in burrows or under logs by day and emerging at night, especially after rain.
- Sozialität
- Solitary
- It is a well-adapted burrowing frog, using its hind limbs to dig efficiently into the soil. It is rarely seen during dry periods, choosing to estivate deep underground to prevent dehydration. When confronted, it will inflate itself remarkably like a balloon to appear larger to predators.
- Reproduktion
- Oviparous
- Breeding is characterized by large, noisy aggregations in temporary rain pools or flooded ditches. Males call while floating on the water's surface, expanding their large vocal sacs to produce a loud bellowing sound. The eggs hatch into fast-growing tadpoles adapted to ephemeral water conditions.
- Toxizität
- Mildly toxic
- Like other members of its genus, it exudes a sticky, mildly toxic secretion when distressed. This mucous tastes exceptionally bad to predators and can glue the mouths of small snakes together. It is harmless to people but should be handled with care to avoid the sticky residue.
- Lebensphase
- Metamorphosis
- The life cycle requires a rapid transition from aquatic tadpole to terrestrial juvenile before the breeding pools dry up. Tadpoles feed continuously on microscopic suspended particles. Adults live a long, secretive life, mostly hidden beneath the earth.
- Handhabungstoleranz
- Display only
- Display-only. Like most narrow-mouthed frogs, they produce mild skin secretions when stressed and should not be handled.
- Brumation
- Nicht erforderlich
- Tropical in origin, they do not require brumation. They may aestivate in deep burrows if their environment becomes too dry.
- Häutung
- Periodic
- Shedding occurs periodically. High humidity is crucial, and the frogs will slough off and ingest their old skin.
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