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| Nicholl's Toadlet (Metacrinia nichollsi) |
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A small short-bodied frog with short legs, a tendency to run rather than hop and a rather sedate disposition. The undersurface is strikingly marked with dark purple and often has contrasting yellow or orange patches. The upper surface often shows brilliant orange patches in the groin, thigh and upper arms with a purplish back. Maximum size is 2.5 cm.
Listen to call
Approx. 595k Requires
Quicktime 4 or higher.
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Distribution
Far south-west from Dunsborough south and east to Albany with an isolated population in the Stirling Ranges.
Habitat
Karri forest amongst leaf litter and under rotten logs and rocks.
Breeding
Development is entirely terrestrial with no need for free standing water. Males may call from high in bushes which is quite unusual for a terrestrial frog. Males also call from under leaf litter after spring and summer rains. There are reports of females of this species also calling.
Call
The call is a short and grating croak with a "twang".
Eggs
25 - 30 eggs are laid under cover in the leaf litter in late summer.
Tadpoles
The tadpole stage is skipped in this species; instead the young hatch directly out of the eggs after several months.
Other notes
The striking belly pattern may mimic fungus, common among the leaf litter where this species is found.
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