AmphibiaChina 中国两栖类.

Description
This species is the smallest of all brown frogs found in Korea, with males reaching up to 38 mm and females to 44 mm svl. Two dorsal stripes with black spots. This species differs from other brown frogs (e.g., Rana dybowskii) by having a continuous white line along the upper lips. Distinct dark speckling extends from behind the eardrums to the hedge of the snout. Dorsal and ventral skin are smooth with no tubercles. Toe webbing is well-developed. Males are smaller than females and have nuptial pads on the first finger during breeding season.

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, Korea, Republic of

	View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
	View Bd and Bsal data (23 records).

It occurs in Korea (Democratic People's Republic of and Korea, Republic of). Widely distributed in Republic of Korea. It inhabits mostly paddy fields and associated creeks at low elevations (up to 700 m asl but usually below 400 m asl; Song 2008).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Breeding occurs in early spring and metamorphs can be observed in late May (P. Fidenci, personal observation 2009). This species returns to mountain valleys prior to hibernation.

Trends and Threats
Population trends are unknown, however it can be quite common in some areas of Korea. This species has been observed to successfully breed in rice paddies where local residents used pesticides (P. Fidenci, personal observation 2009). Threats to this species include aquatic habitat alteration and loss, pesticides, fertilizers, and pollutants.

Relation to Humans
The species is dependent on the use and preservation of rice paddies.

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

General habitat alteration and loss
Urbanization
Drainage of habitat
Local pesticides, fertilizers, and pollutants

References

Fidenci, P. (2009). Personal observations on Rana coreana. Kyeonggi-do, Sinbuk-myeon, Gawol-eup, Republic of Korea. May 2009.

Shannon, F. A. (1956). ''The reptiles and amphibians of Korea.'' Herpetologica, 12, 22-49.

Song, J.-Y. (2007). A Field Guide Book of Amphibians and Reptiles in the Korean National Park, National Park Research Institute, Annual Report No. 2007-3. KNPS, Korea.

Song, J.-Y. (2008). Rana coreana. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.1. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 22 June 2009.

Song, J.-Y., Matsui, M., Chung, K.-H., Oh, H.-S., and Zhao, W. (2006). ''Distinct specific status of the Korean brown frog, Rana amurensis coreana (Amphibia: Ranidae).'' Zoological Science, 23, 219-224.

Szyndlar, Z. (1984). ''A description of a small collection of amphibians and reptiles from the People's Democratic Republic of Korea with notes on the distribution of the herpetofauna in that country.'' Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 27, 1-18.

Yang, S.-Y., and Yu, C. H. (1978). ''Checklist of Korean amphibians.'' Bulletin of the Institute of Basic Sciences, Inha University, 5, 81-90.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2009 Rana coreana: Korean Brown Frog <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/6780> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Jan 6, 2025.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2025. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 6 Jan 2025.

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