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| Clicking Froglet Crinia glauerti |
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A small ground-dwelling frog that rarely exceeds 2 cm in length. The back may be smooth or have a number of ridges, and is variably patterned with markings of brown, black and grey. The belly of females is boldly blotched with black and white. Males have more uniformly coloured bellies and a dark throat.
Listen to call
Approx. 604k Requires
Quicktime 4 or higher.
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Distribution
Found from the Moore River, north of Perth, to east of Albany, extending inland to Dwellingup and the Stirling Ranges. Common along the Darling Escarpment but distribution is patchy on the Swan Coastal Plain.
Habitat
Occupies areas of both permanent and temporary water such as dams, marshes and streams within Jarrah and Karri forests.
Breeding
Males call from well-concealed positions in grass and tussocks surrounding water. Breeding activity usually starts in midwinter and extends through to early summer. Unlike most other local frogs, the clicking froglet can often be heard calling during the day, especially in light rain or with overcast skies.
Call
The call is a metallic clicking sound, and has been likened to the sound of a "rattle, like a pea in a can" by Bert Main (1965).
Eggs
A small number of eggs are laid singly in shallow water where they sink to the bottom. This makes them very difficult to locate.
Tadpoles
Maximum length of 2.5 cm. The body is heavily pigmented, with the usual pattern being a mottling of light and dark browns. Tail length is less than twice that of the body and the tip is pointed. Found in shallows of permanent and temporary water, often lying still on the bottom. If disturbed they sometimes bury themselves in the sediments. The larval period takes from 3-4 months before metamorphosis in spring.
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