Southern Sandhill FrogArenophryne xiphorhyncha Doughty & Edwards 2008Species Info Card | Updated 2 years ago Southern Sandhill FrogB. Maryan Several Southern Sandhill FrogsB. Maryan Southern Sandhill FrogB. Maryan A small-bodied forwards-burrowing frog, with a small head and large front hands. The body is greatly depressed and the skin appears quite loose. The colour is light tan to dark brown, often flecked with red and with a thin vertebral stripe present. Breeding Biology Unknown, but presumably similar to the Northern Sandhill Frog (Arenophryne rotunda) which has direct-developing eggs and no tadpole stage. Habitat Sandhills. Etymology xiphorhyncha means 'sword-snouted', in reference to this species pointier snout compared to the Northern Sandhill Frog (A. rotunda). General This species was discovered when genetic tests by D. Edwards found ages of divergence of 5-7 million years between the northern and southern populations of Sandhill Frogs. Further investigation revealed that there were two species involved. North of Geraldton. From Kalbarri National Park and north to Shark Bay, where it is replaced by the Northern Sandhill Frog. Call a simple low squelch, made by males calling below the surface (S. Fischer, pers. comm.). Call provided courtesy of S. Fischer, Bush Heritage. ‹ South Coast Froglet Splendid Tree Frog ›