Wailing Frog

Cyclorana vagitus Tyler, Davies & Martin 1981

Species Info Card | Updated 1 decade ago

A medium-sized (to 5 cm) stout frog with short legs and rough skin. The fingers are unwebbed with a nuptial pad on the first finger, the toes are half-webbed and there are large inner metatarsal tubercles. The colouration is pale grey with dark grey or green markings. Lacks the dorsolateral skin fold characteristic of the Giant Frog (C. australis).

Breeding Biology

Breeds in response to episodic rain events in shallow temporary water bodies.

Habitat

Open grassy plains.

Etymology

vagitus refers to 'wailing' or the crying of an infant in reference to the sound of the call.

General

This species is closely-related to the Knife-footed Frog (C. cultripes), but can be distinguished by call.

Kimberley region - known from the Broome-Derby area and the Kununurra-Wyndham area. Also occurs over the border in the NT, but taxonomic confusion with C. cultripes is not resolved yet.

A drawn out "waaaa...waaaa...waaaa" compared to the sound of a crying baby (hence the name of the species).