arid zone frog finder

Region Frog Finder

The Frog Finder keys in this section contain short descriptions of the main distinguishing features to help you identify arid zone frogs by sight and sound. The arid zone frogs are the least known of all WA frogs. This is due to their remoteness, and that when it rains and the frogs all come out to breed, people cannot get to them because of the lack of sealed roads.

The Northern Sandhill Frog near Shark Bay breeds in winter and spring and has direct-developing young (no tadpole stage). All the other arid zone species breed in response to infrequent storms, especially when cyclones travel south from the Timor Sea during the wet season (November - March). The tadpoles complete development rapidly as ponds do not last long in the arid zone. Species just outside the southwest (e.g., Western Toadlet) may breed in response to winter rains.




regional frog list

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Centralian Burrowing Frog

Platyplectrum spenceri

Size - Medium
Look For - Ornate yet diffuse pattern
Call - 'ho...ho...ho'

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Desert Spadefoot

Notaden nichollsi

Size - Medium
Look For - Round shape, short face, intricate pattern of dots
Call - A loud 'whoop'

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Giant Frog

Cyclorana australis

Size - Large
Look For - Triangular head, rough brown skin
Call - A loud 'whoark...whoark'

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Glandular Toadlet

Uperoleia glandulosa

Size - Small
Look For - Small head, lumpy skin, reduced webbing on toes
Call - A sharp click

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Gorge Toadlet

Pseudophryne douglasi

Size - Small
Look For - Elongate, marbled belly
Call - A grating squelch

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Little Red Tree Frog

Litoria rubella

Size - Small
Look For - Reddish brown, small head
Call - Screech like a seagull

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Long-footed Frog

Cyclorana longipes

Size - Medium
Look For - Smooth and intricately marked back
Call - A long harsh wavering note

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Northern Burrowing Frog

Neobatrachus aquilonius

Size - Medium
Look For - Round, yellow pattern, white belly
Call - A short trill

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Frog-Listing-Thumbnail-Temp.jpg More Info

Northern Sandhill Frog

Arenophryne rotunda

Size - Small
Look For - Pale squat body, loose-fitting skin, burrows forwards
Call - A short squelch

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Northwest Toadlet

Uperoleia russelli

Size - Small
Look For - Small head, lumpy skin, toes half-webbed
Call - A short grating rasp

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Frog-Listing-Thumbnail-Temp.jpg More Info

Plonking Frog

Neobatrachus wilsmorei

Size - Medium to large
Look For - Large yellow "W" on back
Call - A hollow tapping or 'plonking'

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Sheep or Main's Frog

Cyclorana maini

Size - Medium
Look For - Robust body, pale reddish brown
Call - Like a sheep

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Shoemaker Frog

Neobatrachus sutor

Size - Medium
Look For - Bright yellow back with brown patches
Call - A repetitive tapping

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Tanami Toadlet

Uperoleia micromeles

Size - Small
Look For - Wide head, lumpy skin
Call - Unknown.

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Tawny Trilling Frog

Neobatrachus fulvus

Size - Medium
Look For - Round shape, rich brown, no black tubercles on feet
Call - A low trill

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Water-holding Frog

Cyclorana platycephala

Size - Large
Look For - Flattened head, fully webbed feet
Call - 'Maaawww...'

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Western Toadlet

Pseudophryne occidentalis

Size - Small
Look For - Crawls, brown with orange patches
Call - A short grating croak

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Frog-Listing-Thumbnail-Temp.jpg More Info

Wheatbelt Frog

Neobatrachus kunapalari

Size - Medium
Look For - Dark blotches on yellow
Call - Low-pitched trill