Hi Herpsandbirds, could you please consider posting one of the Australian water-holding frogs (as a counterpoint to your freezing Wood Frog?). Cyclorana sp. I think. https://www.frogid.net.au/frogs/cyclorana-platycephala
They are not particularly handsome frogs but watching videos of them burrowing backwards into mud is quite satisfying and they inspired an excellent Dreaming story, Tiddalik.
Cyclorana
So, I recognize the genus of Cyclorana as now being part of the genus Ranoidea. So, my taxonomy is a little different.
Eastern or Common Water-holding Frog (Ranoidea or Cyclorana platycephala), family Hylidae, found throughout interior Australia, but most common in the East
These frogs are well known for aestivating (dormancy during hot dry conditions), in underground burrows, up to 1 m deep, near the roots of plants.
They are capable of storing up to half of their body weight in water in the lower bladder and in pockets beneath the skin.
They emerge from the ground after heavy rainfall in Spring or Summer.
Native people use/have used the frog as a source of water. digging up and lightly squeezing the frog, then placing it back into the ground.
photographs by Tnarg & Steven Zozaya
