|
|
 |
| Humming Frog (Neobatrachus pelobatoides) |
|
|
|
A moderate-sized frog attaining a length of up to 4.5 cm. They have a flat broad head and a vertical (cat-like) pupil. The back pattern and colour is quite variable although a base colour of pale green or grey with darker green or brown irregular patches is most common. Usually there is a fine pale red stripe running from the tip of the snout to the base of the back. Often a pale stripe is visible even if not red. The skin on the back is always granular. Males have a nuptial pad (rough patch) on the first finger.
Listen to call
Approx. 1139k Requires
Quicktime 4 or higher.
|
|
|
Distribution
Found throughout most of the southwest, from Shark Bay to Esperance although it is absent from the extreme southwest corner of the state. Locally, humming frogs appear to be mostly confined to the Darling Ranges, although they do occur in some areas of the Swan Valley.
Habitat
Found mostly on clay or loam soils where it burrows and remains underground during the drier parts of the year.
Breeding
Autumn and early winter is the usual breeding time in areas of reliable winter rainfall. In the more arid parts of the southwest they are more opportunistic and tend to breed after any heavy rain. Males usually call from open positions in temporary pools.
Call
A low pitched hum or trill that is difficult to hear over long distances. Similar to the call of the introduced cane toad.
Eggs
Eggs are laid in a continuous string that settles to the bottom. As many as 500 eggs may be laid by an individual female but larger numbers may be found as several females may deposit eggs in the same location.
Tadpoles
Tadpoles attain a maximum length of 6 cm and are a uniform pale colour on their upper surfaces while the under surface is silvery-white. The tail is approximately one and a half times the length of the body.
|
|
|
