Hylidae family
Myobatrachidae family
Litoria caerulea - Green tree frog
Family: Hylidae (Tree frogs)
Description: The green tree frog can grow to 100mm. It varies from dark olive to bright green and has the ability to change its colour, often becoming a darker colour at night. It has white spots or flecks along its sides and sometimes on its back, and usually has a white streak or a series of white spots that run from the corner of the mouth to the base of the arm. There is also a skin fold that runs from the eye to the arm. The back is smooth but its belly is granular and white. The finger and toe pads are large with the fingers a third webbed and the toes three-quarters webbed.
Distribution: This frog is found throughout NSW and QLD, and can also be found in parts of NT, WA, and SA.
Habitat: This frog can often be found around buildings such as shower blocks, toilets and water tanks. Males call from trees or sometimes in drainpipes, water tanks or tree hollows before moving down to call near water after heavy rain during summer. Breeding habitat consists of shallow, temporary pools, ponds, swamps and flooded areas.
Call: A deep sounding “crawk....crawk....crawk”.
Eggs and Tadpoles: Eggs are large floating clumps laid in a single layer on the water surface. Tadpoles are approximately 50mm in length and are brown to pale-brown or translucent gold-brown. They move throughout the water body often coming to the surface, but will retreat quickly if disturbed. The green tree frog has a relatively short larval period, metamorphosing after approximately 38 days.
Similar species: There are no other frogs in the Lachlan catchment that could be confused with this species.
Photo courtesy Mal Carnegie (Lake Cowal Conservation Centre - LCCC)
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Litoria latopalmata - Broad-palmed frog
Family: Hylidae (Tree frogs)
Description: The broad-palmed frog can reach up to 40mm in length. It ranges from pale to dark brown above, sometimes with dark blotches. It has a dark stripe running from the snout, through the eye, over the tympanum (ear membrane), and down the side of the body where it breaks up into blotches. There is a white bar in front of the eye which curves down below the eye to the base of the arm. The back of the thighs are patterned yellow and dark brown. The belly is white and granular but the back is smooth with a few scattered warts. The finger and toe pads are small and the toes are webbed.
Distribution: Coastal to inland NSW and QLD.
Habitat: This frog is associated with a variety of habitats and can be found in woodland, forest and grazing land near dams, swamps, creeks and rivers. Calling occurs on the ground at the edges of water during spring and summer particularly after heavy rain. Outside the breeding season it can be found some distance from water.
Call: A rapid “quacking” or “yapping”.
Eggs and Tadpoles: Eggs are laid in clusters at or near the surface of the water either floating or attached to vegetation but eventually sink to the bottom of the pool. Tadpoles are approximately 50mm in length and are sandy-gold becoming darker near the tail, sometimes with scattered dark patches. Tadpoles spend most of their time on the bottom of the water body and feed on vegetation and sediment.
Similar species: This frog can be distinguished from other Litoria species by the white bar in front of the eye.
Photo courtesy Dr. Skye Wassens (Charles Sturt University)
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Litoria peronii - Peron’s tree frog
Family: Hylidae (Tree frogs)
Description: The Peron’s tree frog can grow to 50mm. It varies from grey to dark brown or cream with bright green or dark flecks on its back but can change colour rapidly at any time of the day. Its belly is white-yellow and granular and its groin, back of thighs and armpits have yellow and black mottling which is also sometimes found on the webbing between the toes. The pupil is distinctively cross-shaped and the toe pads are large with the fingers half webbed and toes almost fully webbed.
Distribution: This frog is found throughout NSW, southern QLD, northern Victoria and along the Murray River into SA.
Habitat: This frog can be found in a variety of habitats and is commonly associated with permanent water such as rivers and streams but also with still water bodies such as dams and ponds. It can be found in forests, woodland and cleared land either nearby or away from water. Calling takes place during early spring to summer from trees and fallen timber within and around water. This frog is very adaptable and can sometimes be found around areas of human habitation.
Call: A long, drawn out “cackle” that increases in volume and descends in speed as the call progresses (listen to call).
Eggs and Tadpoles: Eggs are found singly or in small clusters along the water body margin often among leaf litter or vegetation. Tadpoles are approximately 75mm in length with prominent eyes and three dark longitudinal stripes along the back with a shiny, coppery sheen on the sides of the body. The tadpoles are active swimmers, often cruising near the water surface. Metamorphosis takes place after three and a half months.
Similar species: There is no other species in the Lachlan catchment that would likely be confused with Peron’s tree frog.
Photo courtesy of Carmen Amos
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Litoria raniformis - Southern bell frog
Family: Hylidae (Tree frogs)
Description: The southern bell frog can grow up to 85mm. It is olive to bright emerald green on its back with large gold, brown, black or bronze spots. It has a pale green stripe running down the middle of the back, and a pale stripe running from the side of the head and down the flanks. The groin and backs of the thighs are bright blue, sometimes with yellow flecks. The belly is granular and white, and the toes are almost fully webbed with small toe discs.
Distribution: This frog is found throughout Victoria and into southern NSW and SA. It has suffered heavy declines in the last few decades and is listed as Endangered in NSW.
Habitat: The southern bell frog is mostly associated with permanent lakes, lagoons, ponds and dams that have a high percentage of vegetation, and is also known to inhabit irrigated rice bays. Males call from spring to autumn while floating in water among vegetation.
Call: A growling “waaah...waaah” or “craw..craw..crawk” (listen to call).
Eggs and Tadpoles: Eggs are large and are laid in clusters at the surface of shallow water. They are usually attached to vegetation and sometimes sink to the bottom. Tadpoles are large, up to 110mm in length and are dark in colour changing to a shiny yellow and green. Metamorphosis takes place after 12 to 15 months.
Similar species: This frog can be distinguished from Litoria aurea (green and golden bell frog) by its lumpy back, and from Litoria castanea (New England swamp frog) by a lack of large yellow spots in the groin.
Photo courtesy Dr. Skye Wassens (CSU)
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Crinia parinsignifera - Eastern sign-bearing froglet
Family: Myobatrachidae (Southern frogs)
Description: The eastern sign-bearing froglet is a small species up to 30mm in length. Colour is variable and can range from shades of light brown to grey to almost black with patterning either light coloured on the back with black sides, grey-brown with darker patches, or light coloured with a dark band running down the back with lighter coloured bands below. The skin on the back can be smooth, with small warts, or with raised folds like ridges. The belly is granular and grey with darker flecks. The fingers and toes are unwebbed.
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout NSW, southern QLD, north-western Victoria and south-eastern SA.
Habitat: This frog is can be found in flooded woodland, paddocks, small dams and ponds, and vegetated creeks. It shelters under logs and leaf litter and calls throughout most of the year from among grasses near water.
Call: A drawn-out ‘squelch’ that sounds like “eeeeeeeek”, which is repeated every few seconds (listen to call).
Eggs and Tadpoles: Eggs are laid in shallow water. They are very small and laid singly, attached to vegetation or the pool bottom. Tadpoles are small, approximately 25mm in length and are dark in colour with gold patches. Tadpoles metamorphose after approximately three months.
Similar species: This frog is similar to other Crinia species but can be distinguished by its belly colouration and call.
Photo courtesy Mal Carnegie (LCCC)
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Limnodynastes fletcheri - Barking marsh frog
Family: Myobatrachidae (Southern frogs)
Description: The barking marsh frog can grow to 50mm or larger. It is light grey or brown with irregular, scattered darker blotches and spots and usually has a pinkish-purple patch on the back of the upper eyelids. The skin on its back is smooth with low, round warts and the belly is smooth and white. The feet are webbed near the base of the toes.
Distribution: This frog is found west of the ranges in NSW, southern QLD, northern Victoria and into SA.
Habitat: The barking marsh frog can be found in flooded grassy areas and along the banks of streams, lagoons and dams. It shelters under rocks and logs or in cracked mud or yabby burrows. Males call while floating in water usually among vegetation near the waters edge particularly after rain and can be heard throughout the year including during mild winter weather.
Call: The call sounds like a single dog bark “rok” or “whuck” (listen to call).
Eggs and Tadpoles: Eggs are laid in a floating foam mass which is usually attached to submerged vegetation. Tadpoles can be up to 70mm in length and range in colour from whitish-gold with an olive tint to grey-brown or olive-brown. They are strong, fast swimmers and spend most of their time on the bottom of the water body. Barking marsh frog tadpoles are difficult to tell apart from tadpoles of the spotted marsh frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis).
Similar species: This frog is similar to the spotted marsh frog (L. tasmaniensis) but can be distinguished by the pinkish-purple patches on the back of the eyelids and the irregularity of its blotches and spots.
Photo courtesy Carmen Amos
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Limnodynastes interioris - Giant banjo frog
Family: Myobatrachidae (Southern frogs)
Description: The giant banjo frog is a large burrowing frog that can grow up to 90mm in length. It ranges from pale yellow, to fawn, to reddish brown on its back with uneven dark flecks and spots. It has a broad orange band along its side with uneven black bands below and a black stripe that runs from the snout through each eye. Under the eye is a raised orange or yellow stripe that extends to the top of the arm. The belly is smooth and yellow with black spots and the toes are a third to half webbed.
Distribution: Central NSW and northern Victoria.
Habitat: This frog is associated mainly with dry, sandy regions in woodland, shrubland, and open and disturbed areas. The males call from vegetation or burrows along the margins of dams, flooded ditches and temporary pools during spring and autumn usually after periods of heavy rain.
Call: Sounds like a deep “thump” or “thud” (listen to call).
Eggs and Tadpoles: Eggs are a large foamy mass floating at the edge of still or slow moving water bodies usually among vegetation. Tadpoles are approximately 70mm in length and are grey-brown with dark spots, and mainly bottom-dwelling. Tadpoles metamorphose into frogs after approximately 6 months.
Similar species: This frog is similar to Limnodynastes dumerilli (Eastern pobblebonk) but can be distinguished by its yellow belly and webbed toes.
Photo courtesy Mal Carnegie (LCCC)
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Limnodynastes tasmaniensis - Spotted marsh frog
Family: Myobatrachidae (Southern frogs)
Description: The spotted marsh frog can grow up to 45mm in length. It varies from light brown to olive green on its back with a series of irregular darker spots and blotches which also cover the legs. It has a pale, raised stripe runs from below the eye to the arm and sometimes there is a yellow, pinkish or white stripe running down its back. The skin on the back has low warts but the belly is smooth and white and the toes are slightly webbed.
Distribution: This frog is found throughout much of the eastern part of Australia.
Habitat: The spotted marsh frog is often the first frog to colonise newly inundated areas. It is highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats including dams, streams and flooded ditches in woodland, shrubland or grassland, and also around human habitation. Calling occurs while males are floating or sitting in shallow water usually among vegetation throughout most of year including during mild winter weather and particularly after rain.
Call: The call is a machine gun-like “uk-uk-uk-uk-uk” and is repeated at intervals. Spotted marsh frogs in Victoria and Tasmania have a different call which has been reduced to a single “click” or “pok” (listen to call).
Eggs and Tadpoles: Eggs are laid in a floating, foamy mass usually among vegetation or leaf litter near the waters edge. Tadpoles are between 50 and 60mm and range from light to dark brown or grey-brown sometimes with dark spots, to whitish-gold. Tadpoles metamorphose into frogs after three to three and a half months.
Similar species: The spotted marsh frog is similar to the barking marsh frog (Limnodynastes fletcheri) except that it has more regularly shaped blotches and lacks a pinkish-purple patch on the back of its upper eyelid.
Photo courtesy Mal Carnegie (LCCC)
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Neobatrachus sudelli - Sudell’s frog
Family: Myobatrachidae (Southern frogs)
Description: Sudell’s frog is highly variable in colour and pattern. It can be grey, yellow or red-brown on its back with irregular, large dark brown or olive green blotches. Sometimes there is a pale stripe running down the middle of the back. The skin on the back is rough but the belly is smooth and white and the skin around the groin is loose and baggy which extends to the knee. The pupil is vertical and the toes are webbed.
Distribution: This frog is found throughout central NSW and Victoria, and into southern QLD and SA.
Habitat: Sudell’s frog is a strong burrower. It occurs in woodland, grassland, and shrubland and can also be found in cleared areas. Males call while they are floating in water in flooded claypans or ditches, dams or any still water body particularly after heavy summer rain.
Call: A short trill (listen to call).
Eggs and Tadpoles: Eggs are laid in chains near the surface of the water usually tangled in vegetation. If they are disturbed, they sink to the bottom. Tadpoles are up to 77mm in length and vary from dark to light grey-brown to golden brown usually with small dark or gold scattered clusters. Tadpoles often overwinter after autumn breeding usually metamorphosing in spring or early summer.
Similar species: Its vertical pupil and webbed toes distinguishes this frog from other genera of burrowing frogs.
Photo courtesy Mal Carnegie (LCCC)
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Notaden bennettii - Crucifix frog
Family: Myobatrachidae (Southern frogs)
Description: The crucifix frog grows to 50mm in length and is olive, yellow or green with a distinctive cross-shaped pattern of black, red, white and yellow spots on its back. The skin on the back is warty but the belly is smooth and white, and the toes are slightly webbed.
Distribution: Found throughout a large area of inland NSW and southern inland QLD.
Habitat: This frog is a burrowing species found in ‘black soil’ areas on the slopes and plains but can also be found in savannah woodland and mallee regions. They spend most of their time underground feeding on ants but emerge after heavy summer rain to breed. Calling takes place in temporary flooded ditches or ponds.
Call: An owl-like rising ‘whooo’.
Eggs and Tadpoles: Eggs are laid in a single layer on the surface of shallow, temporary pools which then sink to the bottom. The tadpoles are approximately 40mm in length and are grey-brown to dark-brown with a dull copper sheen along the sides of the body. Tadpoles metamorphose after approximately six weeks.
Photo courtesy Mal Carnegie (LCCC)
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References:
Anstis, M. (2002). Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia: a guide with keys, Sydney, Reed New Holland.
Cogger, H. G. (2000). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, 5th edition, Sydney, Reed New Holland.
Robinson, M. (2005). A field guide to frogs of Australia, Sydney, Reed New Holland.
Frog Call Acknowledgments:
Murray Littlejohn, recordist/narrator
Duncan Smith, compiler/mixer
Department of Zoology at the University of Melbourne (view attachment)