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Arid Zone Frog Finder
The Frog Finder keys in this section contain short descriptions of the main distinguishing features to help you identify arid zone frogs by sight and sound. The arid zone frogs are the least known of all WA frogs. This is due to their remoteness, and that when it rains and the frogs all come out to breed, people cannot get to them because of the lack of sealed roads.
The Sandhill Frog near Shark Bay breeds in winter and spring and has direct-developing young (no tadpole stage). All the other arid zone species breed in response to infrequent storms, especially when cyclones travel south from the Timor Sea during the wet season (November - March). The tadpoles complete development rapidly as ponds do not last long in the arid zone. Species just outside the southwest (e.g., Western Toadlet) may breed in response to winter rains.
References - the species accounts are based on:
Frogs of Western Austalia by M. J. Tyler, L. A. Smith & R. E. Johnstone. 2000. WA Museum Press, Perth WA.
Amphibians and Reptiles of Australia by H. G. Cogger. 1992. Reed Books, Chatswood NSW.
A Field Guide to Australian Frogs by J. Barker & G. Grigg. 1977. Rigby Limited, Sydney.
Frogs of the Northern Territory by M. J. Tyler & M. Davies. 1986, NT Government, Darwin, NT.
Brad Maryan and Dale Roberts have also provided additional observations and information.
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Sandhill Frog
Arenophryne rotunda |
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Size - small
Look for - squat body, loose-fitting skin, burrows forwards
Call - short squelch |
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Main's Frog
Cyclorana maini |
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Size - medium
Look for - robust body, pale reddish brown
Call - like a sheep
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Water Holding Frog
Cyclorana platycephala |
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Size - large
Look for - flattened head, fully webbed feet
Call - “maw-w-w-w…” |
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Desert Tree Frog
Litoria rubella |
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Size - small to medium
Look for - reddish brown, small head
Call - screech like a seagull
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Northern Burrowing Frog
Neobatrachus aquilonius |
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Size - medium
Look for - round, yellow pattern, white belly
Call - a short trill
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Tawny Trilling Frog
Neobatrachus fulvus |
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Size - medium
Look for - round shape, rich brown, no black tubercles on feet
Call - a low trill |
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Shoemaker Frog
Neobatrachus sutor |
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Size - medium
Look for - yellow back with brown patches
Call - repetitive tapping |
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Northern Goldfields Frog
Neobatrachus wilsomorei |
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Size - medium to large
Look for - yellow “W” on the back
Call - “plonk…plonk…plonk”
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Desert Spadefoot
Notaden nichollsi |
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Size - medium to large
Look for - round shape, short face, intricate pattern of dots
Call - “whoop…whoop…whoop…”
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Centralian Burrowing Frog
Opisthodon spenceri
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Size - medium
Look for - ornate yet diffuse pattern
Call - “ho…ho…ho…”
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Gorge Toadlet
Pseudophyrne douglasi |
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Size - small
Look for - elongate, dark with orange patches
Call - grating squelch
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Western Toadlet
Pseudophryne occidentalis |
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Size - small
Look for - crawls, brown with orange patches
Call - short grating croak |
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Glandular Toadlet
Uperoleia glandulosa |
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Size - small
Look for - small head, lumpy skin, reduced webbing on toes
Call - sharp click
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Tanami Toadlet
Uperoleia micromeles |
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Size - small
Look for - wide head, lumpy skin
Call - not known |
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Northwest Toadlet
Uperoleia russelli |
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Size - small
Look for - small head, lumpy skin, toes half-webbed
Call - a short grating “grk…grk…”
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