Neobatrachus sutor

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

A medium-sized species of frog reaching up to 5 cm in body length. It has a sandy-gold, bronze, or dark brown back, with dark brown spots and small patches. The belly is white. The pupil is vertical, and the iris is silver or gold. Fingers are unwebbed and toes are fully webbed, both without discs. There is also a black-edged metatarsal tubercle on the bottom of each foot: this is a shovel-shaped lump used for burrowing. The male has an unusually shaped vocal sac, which is 'bilobed', appearing almost divided into two halves when inflated instead of remaining a singular round shape as in most other Australian frog species.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid as clusters attached to vegetation under the surface of the water in temporary ponds, claypans, and dams. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up 7 cm, and are pale gold in colour. They swim at all depths of water bodies, and take around one month to develop into frogs. Breeds during late summer to autumn after heavy rain.

Similar Species

Looks similar to Neobatrachus albipes, Neobatrachus fulvus, Neobatrachus kunapalari, Neobatrachus pelobatoides, and Neobatrachus sudellae in its distribution, but is smaller and has a different call.