Tiny NZ frog leaps into conservation history
29 Feb 2008
For the first time in hundreds of years, the tiny Maud Island frog has hatched in the wild on New Zealand’s mainland.
The froglets were discovered in Wellington’s Karori Sanctuary by Victoria University student Kerri Lukis who is currently studying the nationally threatened amphibians.
''This is extra special because Maud Island frogs have never been found breeding in their natural habitat before, and certainly not on the mainland,'' said Lukis.
Clustered together to conserve moisture, the 13 fingernail-sized froglets have been transferred from the wildlife sanctuary to Victoria University where they will be incubated and released as adults.
Mouse-proof enclosure
Sixty Maud Island frogs were released into a mouse-proof enclosure in Karori Sanctuary in 2006. Later that year 30 frogs were released outside the enclosure so the captive and wild populations could be compared.
When it came time for Lukis to compare the populations, she discovered 13 froglets attached to adult males in the enclosure.
''It's rare to get a good news story about frogs. Every year around 35 species of frog become extinct and all of New Zealand's remaining native frog species are on the critical list.''
While not the rarest species, the thimble-sized Maud Island frogs are nationally threatened. The last population of the frogs was discovered on Maud Island, and they have since been transferred to other islands.
International Year of the Frog
Lukis said the discovery was wonderful timing for 2008 - International Year of the Frog.
The Maud Island froglet differs from most frog species because they hatch from the egg as fully formed froglets without going through the tadpole stage.
The species has evolved very little over the last 70 million years, resulting in some distinctive features and behaviours including the lack of a croak.
More information:
Zealandia - Karori Sanctuary Experience
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