Limnodynastes tasmaniensis

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

A medium-sized species of frog reaching up to nearly 5 cm in body length. It has a grey-brown or olive-green back with darker olive-green or brown patches. There is often a pale cream-coloured or red longitudinal stripe along the middle of the back. There is a cream-coloured stripe from under the eye to the top of the arm. The belly is white, and the male has a yellow throat during the breeding season. The pupil is nearly round and the iris is gold. Fingers are unwebbed and toes are slightly webbed, both without discs. Three vastly different call races exist throughout the range of these frogs. In northern NSW, QLD, and northern VIC, the call is 3-4 rapid, high-pitched 'uk-uk-uk' notes. In southern VIC and TAS, it's a short 'click’. In southeast SA, both of these calls exist. On the northern end of the Coorong in SA, the calls are similar to the northern calls, but are lower in pitch and consist of 4-5 ‘uk-uk-uk-uk’ notes. Hybrid zones between these call races exist within central VIC, and west of the Murray River in SA.

Breeding Biology

Frogs from QLD, NSW, VIC and TAS lay eggs as a foamy mass on the surface of dams, temporary or permanent ponds, flooded paddocks, and roadside ditches, while frogs from southeast SA lay eggs in non-foamy masses. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to nearly 7 cm, and are whitish gold, dark brown, or light golden brown in colour. They often remain at the bottom of water bodies, and take at least three and a half months to develop into frogs. Breeds during spring to autumn, but also in winter after heavy rain.

Similar Species

Looks similar to Limnodynastes convexiusculus, Limnodynastes fletcheri, Limnodynastes peronii, and Limnodynastes salmini in its distribution, but lacks the multiple longitudinal stripes of Limnodynastes peronii and the salmon-pink or orange side stripes of Limnodynastes salmini. It also lacks the purple or pink patches above the eyes that are present in Limnodynastes fletcheri, and has a different call to Limnodynastes convexiusculusi.