Spicospina flammocaerulea
Sunset Frog
Conservation Status
Calling Period
Description
A small species of frog reaching up to 3.5 cm in body length. It has a bluish-black back, with tiny bright blue specks on the arms and legs and around the eyes. The belly is bluish-black with light blue mottling, and the throat is bright orange. The upper lip, hands, feet, and armpits are also bright orange. Fingers and toes are unwebbed, both without discs.
Breeding Biology
Eggs are laid singly on algal mats on the surface of the water in small, deep ponds. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to 3 cm, and are brown in colour. They often remain among the water algae mats, and may take around three months to develop into frogs. Breeds during spring and summer.
Similar Species
Does not look similar to any other species in its distribution.
Images
Photo: Adam Parsons
Photo: Adam Parsons
Calls
By: Dale Roberts
By: Grant Webster
Distribution
Seen only near Walpole, in southwest WA. It is only found in small populations, making it highly vulnerable to extinction due to the amphibian chytrid fungus, wildfires, habitat loss, and other environmental disturbances.