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All of the amphibians of New Zealand are either from the endemic genus Leiopelma or are one of the introduced species, of which three are extant. Pepeketua is the eponymized Māori word.

Unique characteristics

Members of the genus Leiopelma exhibit a number of basal traits that separate them from most other species. These traits include: vestigial tail-wagging muscles, cartilaginous inscriptional ribs, the presence of amphicoelous vertebrae, and nine presachral vertebrae (most frogs have eight). In addition, Leiopelma lack external ear drums and produce only limited vocalizations.

Species

Native

Scientific name	Common name	Image
Leiopelma archeyi	Archey's frog
Leiopelma hamiltoni	Hamilton's frog
Leiopelma hochstetteri	Hochstetter's frog
Leiopelma auroraensis	Aurora frog	EX
Leiopelma markhami	Markham's frog	EX
Leiopelma waitomoensis	Waitomo frog	EX

Introduced

Scientific name	Common name	Image
Ranoidea aurea	Green and golden bell frog
Ranoidea raniformis	Growling grass frog
Litoria ewingii	Southern brown tree frog

See also

• Environment of New Zealand
• Conservation in New Zealand
• Fauna of New Zealand

References

1. pepeketua - Māori Dictionary http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/word/5496
2. 09 October 2012 http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/in-our-nature/7787401/Our-fascinating-frogs
3. Ryan, Paddy. "Frogs in New Zealand". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 July 2012.

Further reading

• D.G. Newman (1996). "Native frog (Leiopelma ssp.) recovery plan" (PDF). Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand.

External links

• New Zealand Frog Conservation Biology - research on New Zealand frog biology
• New Zealand Frog Research Group - information and resources on frog conservation from the University of Otago
• EcoGecko - New Zealand herpetology consultant/research
• Frogs at the Department of Conservation

• Amphibians of New Zealand
• Lists of amphibians by country
• Lists of amphibians of Oceania
• Lists of biota of New Zealand