Kimberley Frog Finder

The Frog Finder keys in this section are short descriptions of the main distinguishing features to help you identify Kimberley frogs by sight and sound. The Kimberley Frog Finder is an ongoing work, with some of the more remote species to be added when we know more about them and their habits.

Above - Mt. Leake, Mornington Station; Left - Mitchell Plateau; Centre - creek near Kununurra; Right - rocky creek near Wyndham


All Kimberley species are known to breed in the wet season (November - March), and many of the more arid-adapted species (e.g., Notaden) will breed in response to rainfall at other times of the year.


References - the species accounts are based on:

Frogs of Western Austalia by M. J. Tyler, L. A. Smith & R. E. Johnstone. 2000. WA Museum Press, Perth WA.

Amphibians and Reptiles of Australia by H. G. Cogger. 1992. Reed Books, Chatswood NSW.

Frogs of the Northern Territory by M. J. Tyler & M. Davies. 1986, NT Government, Darwin, NT.

A Field Guide to Australian Frogs by J. Barker & G. Grigg. 1977. Rigby Limited, Sydney.

Brad Maryan and Dale Roberts have also provided additional observations and information.

		Giant Frog Cyclorana australis
		Size - large Look for - triangular head, rough brown skin Call - “whoark…whoark…whoark…”

		Long-footed Frog Cyclorana longipes
		Size - medium Look for - smooth and intricately marked back Call - long harsh wavering notes

		Wailing Frog Cyclorana vagitus
		Size - medium Look for - robust build, pale mottled colouration Call - like a baby crying

		Marbled Frog Limnodynastes convexiusculus
		Size - medium Look for - marbled olive pattern on back Call - pitched honk repeated sporadically

		Carpenter Frog Limnodynastes lignarius
		Size - medium to large Look for - very large eardrum Call - a hollow tap repeated slowly

		Northern Dwarf Grass Frog Litoria bicolor
		Size - small Look for - green on top, white below, brown stripe between Call - "reeek...pip pip reeek...pip pip..."

		Green Tree Frog Litoria caerulea
		Size - large Look for - green skin, large glands behind eye Call - loud bark repeated frequently

		Rock Frog Litoria coplandi
		Size - small to medium Look for - pale brown, wide but agile, tympanum distinct Call - evenly-spaced notes that increase in volume

		Bumpy Rocket Frog Litoria inermis
		Size - small to medium Look for - bumpy skin on back, narrow fingers and toes Call - complex: piercing beeps followed by chortles

		Rockhole Frog Litoria meiriana
		Size - small Look for - mottled green, skips across water Call - high-pitched notes, Morse code-like spacing

		Javelin Frog Litoria microbelos
		Size - tiny Look for - dark brown stripe along sides Call - soft repeated buzzing

		Striped Rocket Frog Litoria nasuta
		Size - medium Look for - long nose, longitudinal ridges Call - complex: "wick, wick, wick...but, but..."

		Pale Rocket Frog Litoria pallida
		Size - small to medium Look for - pale grey with dark stripe only on head, narrow fingers and toes Call - "meeek...meeek...meeek" with waver at end

		Northern Laughing Tree Frog Litoria rothii
		Size - medium Look for - flattened shape, yellow and black on legs Call - descending staccato "laughs"

		Little Red Tree Frog Litoria rubella
		Size - small to medium Look for - reddish brown, small head Call - screech like a seagull

		Splendid Tree Frog Litoria splendida
		Size - large Look for - green with pale spots, large parotid glands Call - repeated barking

		Black-shinned Rocket Frog Litoria tornieri
		Size - small to medium Look for - pale smooth skin, black bar ends past ear drum, black-edged shins Call - "merk...merk...merk"

		Chattering Rock Frog Litoria staccato
		Size - small to medium Look for - mottled back, long nose, expanded toe discs Call - high-pitched irregular call (like Morse code)

		Wotjulum Frog Litoria wotjulumensis
		Size - medium Look for - smooth skin, long nose, fully webbed feet, small finger and toe discs Call - complex and sustained (30s) series of cackles and chortles

		Northern Spadefoot Notaden melanoscaphus
		Size - medium Look for - round shape, dark rough skin, black spades on feet Call - "whoop...whoop...whoop..."

		Ornate Burrowing Frog Opisthodon ornatus
		Size - medium Look for - ornate brown pattern, some with vertebral stripe Call - a nasal "unk"

		Northern Toadlet Uperoleia borealis
		Size - small Look for - dark rough skin, small head Call - short rasp