Uperodon systoma

The indistinct frog, globular frog, marbled balloon frog, lesser balloon frog, marbled frog, or marbled globular frog (Uperodon systoma) is a species of frog. It lives in India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Scientists think it could also live in Bangladesh.[2][3][1]

Uperodon systoma
Uperodon systoma01.jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Genus: Uperodon
Species:
U. globulosus
Binomial name
Uperodon globulosus
(Schneider, 1799)
Synonyms[2]
  • Rana systoma Schneider, 1799
  • Bombinator systoma Merrem, 1820
  • Engystoma marmoratum Cuvier, 1829
  • Bufo (Engystoma) marmoratus Cuvier, 1829
  • Bufo (Breviceps) marmoratus Cuvier, 1829
  • Systoma leschenaultii Tschudi, 1838
  • Engystoma marmoratum Guérin-Méneville, 1838
  • Rana (Breviceps) marmoratum Guérin-Méneville, 1838
  • Uperodon marmoratum Duméril and Bibron, 1841
  • Hyperodon marmoratum Jerdon, 1853
  • Cacopus systoma Günther, 1864
  • Systoma marmoratum Steindachner, 1867
  • Pachybatrachus Petersii Keferstein, 1868
  • Uperodon systoma Parker, 1931
  • Uperodon systomus Anders, 2002

Body

This frog uses its strong back legs to dig in the ground. It has a round body that it can make big like a ball. It can dig at least 1.5 m down ito the ground.[3]

Home

This frog digs in the ground. It lives in dry forests, grassy places, places with scrub plants, farms that are resting, gardens, farms without lots of plowing, and near the ocean. Scientists saw this frog as high as 1000 meters above sea level.[1]

This frog lives in many protected parks.[1]

Food

This frog can live for more than a yaer without eating.[3] In some places, this frog eats termites.[1]

Young

The adult frogs climb out of their holes when it is time to lay eggs. This is during the summer monsoon rains. Male frogs call to the female frogs. The females lay eggs in big groups that float on top of the water of ponds or wetlands. This frog has many young at the same time.[1]

The tadpole has a long, pointed tail and a wide fin on its belly. The tail is 16-17 mm long and the whole body with the tail is 27-27.5 mm long.[3]

Danger

Scientists from the IUCN say this frog is not in danger of dying out. Human beings change the places where the frog lives to make towns. Bad chemicals from farms can also kill this frog. Sometimes people hit this frog on roads.[1]

Uperodon Systoma Media

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Template:Cite IUCN
  2. 2.0 2.1 Frost, Darrel R.. 'Uperodon globulosus (Schneider, 1799). Amphibian Species of the World, an Online Reference.American Museum of Natural History, New York. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 M. S. Khan. 'Uperodon systoma (Schneider, 1799). AmphibiaWeb (March 19, 2002)University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved July 14, 2025.