Leiopelma archeyi

Archey's frog | Pepeketua

Leiopelma archeyi
(Turbott, 1942)

Archey's frog (Whareorino). <a href="https://www.instagram.com/samuelpurdiewildlife/">© Samuel Purdie</a>
Image attribution
Archey's frog (Whareorino). © Samuel Purdie
Herpetofaunal category
NZ Frogs
Species complex
Conservation Status
At Risk - Declining
Common names
Archey's frog,
Pepeketua,
Little red man.

Length: SVL: Males up to 31mm; Females up to 40mm

Weight: Up to 5 grams

Description

Archey's frog is New Zealand's smallest, and perhaps most beautiful native frog species. It is distinctive in both its terrestrial lifestyle and its archaic form, belonging to one of the most ancient lineages of amphibians on the planet. 

They are perfectly adapted to their forest environments with their dorsal (upper) surfaces matching the surrounding vegetation. Typically they are light to dark brown, green-brown, or green with dark brown or black blotches and occasionally brilliant green mottling. Dorsolateral lumps (glandular ridges) are present on the dorsal and dorsolateral surfaces. Their lateral surfaces (sides) are brown, pinkish, or orange-brown with black blotches, flecks, and sometimes green mottling. Similar markings can be seen on the arms and legs of this species, with the legs often bearing distinct dark or green transverse bands. Occasionally, the lower lateral surfaces and upper limbs bear brilliant orange or even pale blue colouration. Black markings are typically present under the eyes and upper lip. Ventral (lower) surfaces are typically black or dark brown and may be mottled with green, pale blue, or yellow. Eye colour black with a light golden or golden-brown upper portion. Feet are unwebbed with thin toes, due in large part to their terrestrial nature. As with other Leiopelma, Archey's frogs show slight sexual dimorphism, with females being larger than males (van Winkel et al. 2018).

Archey’s frogs are similar in appearance to our other native frog species but can be differentiated by a combination of their smaller size, terrestrial nature, often brilliant colouration, and lack of webbing on the hindlimb. They co-occur with the semi-aquatic Hochstetter's frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri) on the Coromandel Peninsula, and in the King Country, but are much smaller, and lack webbing.

Life expectancy

Like our other endemic frog species, Archey's frogs are extremely long-lived, with the age records of males and females being 33 years, and 39 years, respectively (Bell et al., 2023).

Distribution

Prior to the colonisation of Aotearoa by humans, Archey’s frogs would have had a much greater distribution, occurring from the East Cape, through to Taranaki, and up into Northland, whilst their sister species, Hamilton's frog (Leiopelma hamiltoni), would have occurred in the southeastern North Island. Today, they are known from the Coromandel Peninsula, and Whareorino Forest (west of Te Kuiti), as well as one translocated population in Pureora Forest. They often occur sympatrically with the semi-aquatic Hochstetter's frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri) (Worthy, 1987; van Winkel et al., 2018; Bishop et al., 2018).

Ecology and habitat

Archey's frogs are nocturnal, and primarily terrestrial, although they are frequently known to climb up vegetation (climbing several metres up into trees and ferns). They inhabit moist native forests between 200-1000 metres above sea level (a.s.l). Frogs emerge from their daytime retreats near dusk and will return to these by dawn. During the day, they typically seek refuge under stones, logs, or in the base of ferns. Their emergence at night is associated with relative humidity, rainfall and the wetness of vegetation. (Bishop et al. 2013; Cree 1989). Archey's frogs seem to be associated with plant communities that typically occur in mature forests, although this pattern of occurrence may have more to do with microclimate and microhabitat preferences (high moisture, litter depth, and complexity of refugia) (Hotham et al., 2023).

Interestingly, Archey's frogs along with their sister species, Hamilton's frog (Leiopelma hamiltoni), exhibit more aggressive defensive tactics than their semi-aquatic cousin the Hochstetter's frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri). Where Hochstetter's frogs tend to quickly move out of harm's way, these terrestrial species take on a rigid headbutting posture. This particular behaviour is strongly associated with the positioning of their secretion glands which are likely a deterrent to would-be predators (Green, 1988).

Social structure

Unlike most frogs, Archey's frog, and other Leiopelma, do not vocalize to communicate with other frogs. Consequently, their breeding behaviour and social behaviour is poorly understood. One study demonstrated that chemical cues from Hamilton's frog (Leiopelma hamiltoni) faeces may play a role in communication and that even size information was able to be communicated. Individuals preferred to spend more time near their own species, rather than faeces from other individuals, and this effect was greatest when the conspecific faeces belonged to a larger frog. Additionally, frogs in this experiment tended to defecate their faeces closer to conspecific faeces, rather than their own (Lee and Waldman 2002).
Although there is little information about territory size, and social interactions in this species, it is likely that as techniques such as radio telemetry become cheaper and more readily available we will learn more about their movements and interactions (see Altobelli et al., 2023).

Archey's frogs also have an interesting paternal care system, whereby the father guards the eggs deposited by the female, which in turn hatch into tailed froglets which climb onto the father's back and are transported around for several weeks until they are fully developed (Bishop et al. 2013). 

Breeding biology

As with all of our endemic frog species, the Archey’s frog is oviparous (egg-laying), laying between 4-19 eggs in summer (between December and February). Maturity is reached between four and seven years but is associated with size rather than age (Bell et al., 2023). Mating occurs between September and November, via amplexus (typical frog mating position). After mating has occurred the female deposits her eggs in a suitable nest, which is typically situated beneath logs or stones in damp soil, or within tree cavities (particularly tree-ferns). These eggs are then brooded by the male. The eggs hatch as tailed froglets, which climb onto the father's back and are transported around for several weeks until metamorphosis is complete (a process often referred to as exovivipary) (van Winkel et al. 2018; Bishop et al. 2013; Bell 1978; Cisternas et al., 2023). 

Diet

Archey’s frogs are carnivorous, nocturnal predators feeding on a wide range of invertebrate prey. An analysis of the gut contents of wild animals found that their prey consisted of springtails, mites, ants, parasitic wasps, amphipods, and isopods (Shaw et al., 2012), although it is likely that they opportunistically prey on other invertebrates within their forest ecosystems.

Disease

As is the case with all of Aotearoa's herpetofauna, the diseases and parasites of our endemic Leiopelma frogs are poorly understood, and incomplete. However, one of the greatest threats amphibians are facing is the rapid spread of the deadly chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). This, and other species of Batrachochytrium have impacted many populations of amphibians around the world (Berger et al. 1999). Some evidence indicates that this may have resulted in a major population crash of Archey's frogs in the Coromandel during the 1990's (Bell et al. 2004). However, lab and field studies of Archey's frogs indicate that Leiopelma are highly resistant to this fungus, with some wild individuals persisting after being infected with no obvious adverse effects, whilst captive animals have been seen to eliminate their own infection (Bishop 2009; ).  

Whilst, Bd may be of some concern for wild populations, other diseases are more prevalent in captive situations. For example, in captivity, Leiopelma frogs are known to develop metabolic bone disease (MBD) and osteofluorosis (accumulation of fluoride in bones) due to improper husbandry (lack of UVB light, and excess fluoride in water bodies) (Shaw, 2012; Shaw et al., 2012).

Additionally, Archey's frogs are a known host for the trematode Dolichosaccus novaezealandiae, a species seemingly restricted to Aotearoa's native frog species (Allison & Blair, 1987).
Two novel nematodes (Koerneria sp. and Rhabditis sp.) and a novel protozoal infection (Tetrahymena), have been recorded in captive Archey's frogs, but the source be it native or exotic is unknown (Shaw, 2012; Shaw et al., 2012).

Conservation

Archey’s frog are listed as ‘critically endangered’ on the IUCN red list and ‘At risk: Declining’ in the DOC threat classification system (Burns et al. 2017).
Archey's frogs undergo regular monitoring and this will likely be continued to understand population trends through time (Haigh et al. 2007). Translocations are also a valuable tool and translocations have occurred to Pureora Forest, east of Te Kuiti (Cisternas et al. 2021). Predator control is also being undertaken in a number of locations and this will most likely be of importance for the local populations of Archey's frog. 

Mammals pose a significant threat to Leiopelma frogs, as molecular diet analysis has demonstrated that both Hochstetter's (Leiopelma hochstetteri) and Archey's frogs are a food source for rats (Egeter et al. 2019; Egeter et al. 2015). Invasive alpine newts (Ichthyosaura alpestris) have also posed a threat to Archey's frogs as they are a vector for disease and have been recorded in close proximity to known Archey's frog populations. Accordingly, it was recommended that alpine newts be eradicated and this control program has appeared to be largely successful (Bell 2016).  

Recent studies have indicated that the release of mice during predator-control of rats and mustelids may have an impact on the survival of young frogs, however, this appears to be greatly offset by the survival and associated breeding success of reproductive adults which appear to be at greater predation from the larger mammalian predators (rats, and mustelids) (Germano et al., 2023).

Interesting notes

The specific name 'archeyi' references Sir Gilbert Edward Archey (1890-1974), a former director of the Auckland Institute and Museum, who was responsible for the study and recognition of the life history and habits of our native frogs - namely Hochstetter's frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri) (van Winkel et al., 2018).

The Archey's frog belongs to a clade (group) which includes its sister species Hamilton's frog (Leiopelma hamiltoni), and the extinct Waitomo frog (Leiopelma waitomoensis) (Worthy, 1987).

The skeletal morphology of Archey's and Hamilton's frogs are so similar that it is hard to determine their exact historical distribution based on fossil remains (Worthy, 1987).

References

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