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| Northern Spadefoot Notaden melansoscaphus |
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A medium-sized (to 5 cm) round burrowing frog. The head and mouth are small, limbs are short and the skin has a rough texture. The fingers are long and the rear feet have a sharp black shovel-shaped inner metatarsal tubercle. Very dark brown colouration with paired black patches on the head and back, sometimes bordered with red.
Listen to call
Approx. 36k Requires
Quicktime 4 or higher.
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Distribution
Eastern and central Kimberley. Extends east across northern NT and Queensland.
Habitat
Open country with sparse vegetation. Can be active on the surface at night even during hot dry weather.
Breeding
Breeds in temporarily flooded areas of clay or sandy soils.
Call
Males call while on the surface of the water; the call is a loud "whoop" .
Eggs
The spawn is a large shapeless clump of over 1000 eggs.
Tadpoles
Not much known. Tadpoles have 3 upper and lower tooth rows
Other notes
The specific name melanoscaphus refers to the black colouration of the inner metatarsal tubercle on the foot. This characteristic distinguishes it from the desert spadefoot (Notaden nichollsi) that occurs further to the west and south. Like all the Notadens, they ooze a creamy sticky liquid when handled or threatened.
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