Chattering Rock Frog

Litoria staccato

A small-to-medium rock-dwelling frog with a pointed snout. Colour is variable ranging from dark red (most individuals) to beige to slatey grey. Head stripe present but poorly defined and often vertebral and dorsolateral stripes on back. Fingers have moderately expanded discs and the toes are partially webbed. Up to 3.5 cm.

Breeding

Breeds in pools along steep rocky creeks and seeps on rock faces.

Call

The main call is a high-pitched irregular burst of notes (like Morse code), interspersed with groups of simple notes and occasionally trills.

Eggs

Eggs are laid in clumps that sink to the bottom.

Tadpoles

Tadpoles cling to surfaces in flowing water with suctorial mouth and take about two months to complete metamorphosis.

Other Notes

This species was discovered in January 2006 and is the first to be described in the Kimberley region in over 20 years. It appears to be a “cryptic” species with the rock frog (L. coplandi) which is abundant where L. staccato occurs. However, the calls of the two species are vastly different to help females choose the right male to mate with (and which led to their discovery).