Taudactylus acutirostris
Sharp-snouted Day Frog
Conservation Status
Calling Period
Description
A small species of frog reaching up to nearly 3 cm in body length. It has or had a brown or yellow-brown back, with small dark brown patches. There is a pale stripe from the tip of the snout to the groin, below which the side and head are dark brown or black, clearly separated from the back colour. The belly is white, with brown patches. The pupil is horizontal, and the iris is gold and brown. The legs have dark horizontal bars. Fingers and toes are unwebbed, both with small discs. The snout is very pointed, which is a rare feature in Australian frogs.
Breeding Biology
Eggs were laid as a small cluster attached to rocks under the surface of the water. Only preserved tadpoles have been examined, with a typical total length of 3.5 cm and a dark brown colour. They often remained at the bottom of water bodies and used their mouthparts to stick to rocks in order to avoid being swept away by flowing water. It is unknown how long they took to develop into frogs. Breeding was recorded during spring to summer.
Similar Species
Looks similar to Crinia deserticola, Crinia remota, and Taudactylus rheophilus in its former distribution, but had a more pointed snout.
Images
Photo: Hal Cogger
Calls
Distribution
Formerly common from Innisfail, north to Big Tableland near Cooktown in the Wet Tropics region of QLD, but has likely become extinct due to the amphibian chytrid fungus. It has not been seen since 1997.