Quacking Frog

Crinia georgiana

A medium-sized ground-dwelling frog with a highly variable back pattern consisting of either smooth or ridged areas of dark brown, light tan and grey. All individuals have a distinctive red patch in the groin and usually red, yellow or gold upper eyelids. The legs often have distinctive barring. Males of the species have much thicker arms than females. Length to 4 cm.

Breeding

Breeding occurs in the wet winter months. Large congregations of males are often found calling from shallow seeps and temporary pools found around granite outcrops. In this species, many males often struggle with each other to amplex the female. Egg-laying is short and more than one male may father offspring in the clutch.

Call

Similar to the sound of a duck quacking.

Eggs

Eggs are large and are often hidden in small depressions around the perimeter of shallow pools.

Tadpoles

Very small, rarely exceed 15 mm in length. Body colour is entirely black. Tail length is more than twice that of the body with a rounded tip. Tadpoles develop quickly in about 1 month as eggs are laid in shallow temporary pools. Tadpoles are able to accelerate metamorphosis if conditions in the water worsen. Newly metamorphosed frogs are tiny (ca. 1.5 cm).

Other Notes

Quacking frogs may be found hibernating under rocks and logs during summer and autumn. Calling males will respond to human "quacks" by quacking back.