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| Western Spotted Frog (Heleioporus albopunctatus) |
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This species is one of the more conspicuous in its patterning. The background colour is a mid-brown or chocolate while the body is coloured with numerous white to pale yellow spots several millimetres in diameter. The maximum length for this species is 7.5 cm, and, as with other members of the genus, it has a robust build with powerful hind limbs. Males have a large sharp spine on the first finger.
Listen to call
Approx. 478k Requires
Quicktime 4 or higher.
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Distribution
The western spotted frog is found through most of the wheatbelt extending north to the lower Murchison River, south to Tambellup and east to Jerramungup. Not found on the Coastal Plain.
Habitat
The western spotted frog occupies the margins of temporary water courses and swamps in semiarid regions.
Breeding
Males dig burrows in low-lying areas that become inundated after autumn and winter rains. Males call from within the burrow to attract females after which eggs are deposited at the bottom of the burrows in damp soil. Rising water levels of swamps and creeks caused by rain eventually flood the burrows allowing the newly developed tadpoles to wriggle free of the egg mass and swim out of the burrows. Males only call for a month or so after the first rains in autumn.
Call
The call is a 'coo' sound repeated about once per second.
Eggs
The eggs masses of this species are white and foamy. As many as 600 eggs may be laid in each mass.
Tadpoles
The body is dark to pale brown with a series of thin, light coloured lines on either side. Tadpoles may be found in flooded burrows during early stages of development. Eventually they are washed in to larger water bodies where they are usually located on the bottom close to aquatic vegetation which they use for cover when disturbed. Development time is from 2-3 months.
Other notes
Western spotted frogs are known to interbreed with the moaning frog where they co-occur in the Darling Range behind Perth.
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