Rockhole Frog

Litoria meiriana (Tyler 1969)

Species Info Card | Updated 1 decade ago

A small (2 cm) flattened and active frog with long limbs. The fingers are short and unwebbed and the toes long and fully webbed. Both fingers and toes have large terminal discs. There are two discernible colour morphs, one a dark brown with shades of olive and the other with more mottling. There are often small spots on the thighs with a small white bar behind each eye.

Breeding Biology

This species breeds in slower-moving pools along creeks and in the rockholes they occur in. Females attach eggs singly or in clumps to rocks submerged in rock pools and streams. The larval period has been reported as taking three weeks.

Habitat

Associated with rock holes with permanent water. Sometimes found in caves.

Etymology

The name meiriana was based on the local Aboriginal name in the Northern Territory for rockhole.

General

This frog can be active in the day or night. Rockhole frogs are extremely agile and can 'skip' across the water to another rock when disturbed.

Kimberley region. Also in the Top End.

A high-pitched irregular series of notes, similar to Morse code. Softer chirps are given in between the main calls.