Austrochaperina fryi

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

A small species of frog reaching up to 3.5 cm in body length. It has a brown, yellow-brown, cream-coloured or red-brown back, often with small dark brown spots and flecks, and sometimes a thin, pale longitudinal stripe along the middle. There is often a dark brown stripe from the tip of the snout to the arm. The belly is cream-coloured, pale orange or pale yellow, sometimes with dark flecks. The pupil is horizontal or nearly round and the iris is gold or red. Fingers and toes are unwebbed, both without discs.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid as one small cluster on land in a hidden area of moist leaf litter and the nest is guarded by the male, as it is with other Austrochaperina species. Tadpoles never swim in water; instead they develop inside the egg and hatch as little frogs. It is unknown how long they take to develop into frogs. Breeds during spring to summer in the wet season and possibly earlier.

Similar Species

Looks very similar to Austrochaperina robusta; they can only be separated by their calls, as well as mostly different distribution. Also looks similar to Austrochaperina pluvialis in its distribution, but has a different eye colour.