Crinia deserticola

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

A small species of frog reaching up to 2 cm in body length. It has a grey, brown, olive-green or reddish back, with darker patches or longitudinal stripes. There is often a triangular patch between the eyes. The belly is white and the male has a grey throat. The pupil is nearly round and the iris is gold. The legs have horizontal bars. Fingers and toes are unwebbed, both without discs.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid singly or in small clusters and attached to vegetation under the surface of the water in swamps, temporary pools, and flooded grassland. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to nearly 3 cm, and are dark gold-brown in colour, covered with gold specks. They often remain on the bottom of water bodies, and it is unknown how long they take to develop into frogs. Breeds during spring to summer after rain.

Similar Species

Looks most similar to Crinia bilingua and Crinia remota in its distribution, but has a different call.