A small species of frog reaching up to 2.5 cm in body length. It has a light brown, reddish-brown or dark brown back, with darker patches. The belly is white with small dark brown patches and spots, and the male has a grey-brown throat. The pupil is nearly round and the iris is gold. Fingers and toes are unwebbed, both without discs.
Eggs are laid as a single layer under rocks in slow-flowing creeks. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to 3.5 cm and are pale gold, dark gold-brown, or nearly black in colour. They often remain at the bottom of water bodies, and it is unknown how long they take to develop into frogs. Breeds during late winter to late spring.
Looks very similar to Crinia riparia, but has a slightly different distribution. DNA testing is otherwise needed to distinguish these two species.
Photo: Stephen Mahony
Photo: Grant Webster
By: Carol Benjamin
Found in the northern Flinders Ranges, in SA.