Heleioporus psammophilus

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

A medium-sized species of frog reaching up to 6 cm in body length. It has a grey-brown or brown back, usually with white or dull yellow mottling. The belly is white, and the sides are sometimes spotted with white. The pupil is vertical and the iris is grey. Fingers are unwebbed and toes slightly webbed, both without discs. Adult males in the northern part of the distribution have small black spines on their fingers during the breeding season, while southern individuals do not.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid as a foamy mass out of the water inside burrows near temporary swamps and other temporary water bodies. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to 5.5 cm, and are grey-brown, black or gold-grey in colour, with golden clusters. They often remain on the bottom of water bodies and escape into still or flowing water bodies after their burrows are flooded, taking four to six months to develop into frogs. Breeds during autumn from late March to May before winter rains.

Similar Species

Looks similar to Heleioporus albopunctatus, Heleioporus barycragus, Heleioporus eyrei, and Heleioporus inornatus in its distribution, but lacks the yellow stripe from the eye to the arm present in Heleioporus barycragus, and distinct white or cream spots on the back as present in Heleioporus albopunctatus. It can most easily be distinguished from Heleioporus eyrei and Heleioporus inornatus by its call.