Cyclorana platycephala
Eastern Water-holding Frog
Distribution
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Conservation Status
What does it mean?
Federal Conservation Status (EPBC Act)
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Frog Calls
Call recorded by H.B. Hines QPWS
Calling Period
- Jan
- yes
- Feb
- peak
- Mar
- yes
- Apr
- possible
- May
- No calling
- Jun
- No calling
- Jul
- No calling
- Aug
- No calling
- Sep
- yes
- Oct
- yes
- Nov
- yes
- Dec
- possible
Species Information
Description
A large species of frog reaching up to nearly 7.5 cm in body length. It has a dull green, brown, or grey back, with or without green or grey patches and sometimes a pale longitudinal stripe along the middle. The belly is white. The pupil is horizontal and the iris is gold. Fingers are unwebbed and toes are fully webbed, both without discs. This species has the amazing ability to live underground for years in a burrow without water, creating a water-holding cocoon of skin around its body to prevent it from drying out. There are eastern and northern colour forms recognised, each with a separate distribution.
Habitats
Occurs in arid woodland, grassland and mallee.
Breeding Biology
Eggs are laid as large clusters under the surface of the water in floodplain areas, and temporarily flooded ditches and ponds in areas with clay soils. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to 8.5 cm in the northern colour form or nearly 11 cm in the eastern colour form, and are gold or brown in colour. They often swim at all depths of water bodies and take around one month to develop into frogs. Breeds during summer after heavy rain.
Similar Species
Looks similar to the many Cyclorana species in its distribution. Looks most similar to Cyclorana australis, but has more toe webbing.