The Water
Holding Frog
Scientific Name:
Cyclorana
Platycephalus
By burrowing into the clay, the frog is able to insulate itself from
temperature changes
By becoming dormant, the water-holding frog is able to
minimize heat production.
Absorbing water from surrounding soil helps
maintain a low body temperature.
The Greater Bilby
Scientific Name:
Macrotis lagotis
Large ears help to radiate heat
As a nocturnal animal, the bilby is able to avoid the
extreme day-time temperatures.
Burrowing into the soil allows the bilby to escape the heat
above ground.
Books:
• Caddy, R. & West, J. (2003). Macquarie Revision Guides: HSC Biology. Macmillan.
Websites:
• Gallagher, N. (2007). Biology: Maintaining a Balance.
http://boredofstudies.org/wiki/Biology:Maintaining_a_Balance (22nd November 2012).
• Queensland Government. (2012). Greater Bilby.
www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/threatened-species/endangered/endangeredanimals/bilby.html (21st November 2012).
• Reed, Hayley. (2011). The Greater Bilby.
designeranimals2011.wikispaces.com/Greater+Bilby (21st November 2012).
• Yun, Elisia. (2007). Water holding Frog: Holds Large Quantities of Water in Their Bodies.
http://voices.yahoo.com/water-holding-frog-holds-large-quantities-water745149.html?cat=33 (22nd November 2012).
Scientific Journals:
• Moritz, C., et al. Genetic population structure of the greater bilby Macrotis lagotis, a
marsupial in decline. Molecular Ecology 6.10 (2003): 925-936.
• Van Beurden, E. K. Energy metabolism of dormant Australian water-holding frogs
(Cyclorana platycephalus). Copeia (1980): 787-799.