Adults of R. italica have a head-body length of 7–7.5 cm (2.8–3.0 in).

If the hind leg is pressed forward along the body, the "heel" (tibio-tarsal articulation) does not extend beyond the snout.

There are pearly granules on the ventral surfaces of the hind legs.

Three different calls are known: a low repeated "grongron", a modulated "squack", and a short "uh".

[4] The natural habitats of R. italica are rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes.