Plonking Frog

Neobatrachus wilsmorei (Parker 1940)

Species Info Card | Updated 1 decade ago

A medium to large-sized robust frog. The back is brown with five distinct narrow yellow stripes: a vertebral stripe plus two lines at each side that meet near the shoulder thus forming a 'W' on the back (easy to remember - W as in wilsmorei). The lower surfaces are creamy white and the toes have moderately extensive webbing. Maximum size is about 6 cm.

Breeding Biology

Breeding occurs in claypans and other shallow areas on warm evenings after summer rains and thunderstorms.

Eggs laid amongst vegetation. Tadpoles similar in appearance to other Neobatrachus tadpoles but attain larger sizes.

Habitat

Arid and sandy areas that flood seasonally in summer.

Etymology

Likely named after UWA chemist Norman Wilsmore, active in the early 20th century. One of the few species where a large initial of the species name appears on the back! ('W').

General

The call of this species is similar to the Shoemaker Frog, but has a more 'hollow' quality to it.

This frog is found in the Goldfields near Kalgoorlie, but also extends to near Kalbarri and Shark Bay and continuing north to Carnarvon on the coast.

A repetitive and hollow-sounding 'plonk...plonk...plonk'. Each note is distinct.