I don’t know what number review this is whoops (sic)
Review – Native NZ Frogs aka Pepeketa
Frogs are the more palatable kinds of amphibians, with adorable big eyes and a tiny stature – they avoid the “gross” label most of their fellow toad cousins get. It also helps that their main way of getting around is also the cutest, as hopping around will never not look adorable. All this means we tend to ignore, or willingly forget, that it’s basically a walking slimeball of mucus with millennia of evolution behind it. Unfortunately, the time it’d take for me to discuss all frog evolution would probably be enough for me to evolve into one on my own – so let’s focus on the Pepeketua of Aotearoa, our native frogs.
As expected of all New Zealand flora and fauna, our native species are particularly unique. So much in fact, our froggies have their own genus – Leiopelma. An ancient lineage to be sure, to the point where our Pepeketua are often referenced as primitive. In fact, our frogs get a lot of buzz from the scientific community – and are well known for having an extra vertebrae, sporting nine instead of the usual 8. Younger frogs in NZ also get to enjoy the remains of ancient tail muscles, leading to the common name of “tailed frogs”.
Small, nocturnal, and well hidden – it’s a mission and a half to try spot these guys in the wild, but they do have a couple of distinguishing features that separate them from all three of our introduced species. Pepeketua refuse to disturb their neighbours, and so croak very rarely – quite polite I think. So if you’re by a pond, and you hear a chorus going – they’re not native. In fact, these frogs seem to scoff at the whole concept of hearing in general, as evidenced by their lack of external eardrum. Basically, you’re not going to impress any of them with music – if you try you’ll just end up with round eyes quietly glaring at you from the scrub. Speaking of scrub, most of our native frogs live on land in moist forested areas, with the minority preferring the stereotypical streams and semi-aquatic lifestyle.
Even though they already live in forests, don’t croak, have an extra bone thrown in there for good measure – these buggers still have one trick up their sleeve. It’s the ultimate “fuck you” to anyone who knows anything about frogs – and it’s that none of our native species have a tadpole stage. None. If it’s a tadpole, it’s not native. Not gonna lie, skipping straight to adulthood is pretty metal – they just do all the growing in the embryo and hatch almost fully-formed. Don’t worry though, they still get coddled by their parents – with the Archey frog going as far as having the dad carry them around like a backpack of offspring. One can only wonder if it has the same effect as a single human male with a baby strapped on their front, but sadly I was unable to get any comments from the female Archeys.
Overall, our four living species of native frog deserve more credit for breaking amphibian norms – although that being said you still have to treat them with care and respect. If you manage to spot one (very impressive), avoid touching it as they still have trade-mark sensitive froggy skin. Also, if you find yourself in their environment – make sure your gear is tidy and clean, as the dreaded chytrid fungus isn’t gonna hold back just because they’re odder than most.
7/10 – One point for each known Pepeketua species
Archey’s frog, one of our four living Pepeketua species