Damon Mcknight
Frogs are found in almost every landscape across Australia, from rainforests to deserts, rock faces to burrows, and in both urban and rural areas. They are the only remaining amphibians in Australia, with over 200 species occurring across the country, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Frogs are an important indicator of the health of the environment, as they are sensitive to environmental changes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of frog species in Australia | Over 200 |
| Number of Australian frog species found nowhere else in the world | 214 |
| States and territories where frogs are found | All except Victoria and Tasmania |
| Diversity of frog species | Greatest in the east (particularly north-east Queensland) and south-west |
| Habitats | Sphagnum moss bogs, rainforests, deserts, rock faces, subterranean burrows, free water, streamside vegetation, dense plantation crops, swamps, lagoons, wet and dry sclerophyll forest, alpine grassland, laundries, letterboxes, toilets, waterholes, streams, backyard ponds, pools, ditches, suburban and urban areas, gardens, gorges, mountains, inner-city suburbs |
| Examples of frog species | Bumpy Rocket Frog, Common Eastern Froglet, Desert Tree Frog, Eastern Banjo Frog, Green and Gold Frog, Green Tree Frog, Motorbike Frog, Red-eyed Tree Frog, Southern Corroboree Frog, Baw Baw Frog, Dainty Green Tree Frog, Great Barred Frog |
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What You'll Learn
Frogs are found in almost any Australian landscape
Frogs are remarkably adaptable creatures, and can be found in almost any Australian landscape. They are cold-blooded amphibians, and are the only remaining amphibians in Australia. They are found in every Australian state and territory, except Victoria and Tasmania. Frogs are reliant on moisture to breathe, reproduce, and survive, and typically start life as tadpoles in an aquatic environment, before transforming into land-based animals.
Frogs have evolved to occupy a variety of habitats, from rainforests to deserts, rock faces to burrows, and free water to sphagnum moss bogs. They can be found in suburban and urban areas, in backyards, and even inside houses, in water tanks, drainpipes, toilets, and mailboxes. They are also found in more remote locations, such as mountains, woodland, and national parks.
The diversity of frog species is greater in the east of Australia, particularly in north-east Queensland, and in the south-west. Some species are widespread, while others are very localised. For example, the Green Tree Frog is found across the entire north of the mainland, from Darwin to Alice Springs, whereas the Baw Baw Frog is found only on Mount Baw Baw, Victoria. The Bumpy Rocket Frog is found in the north of Australia, in Darwin and northern Queensland.
Frog populations in Australia are declining at an alarming rate, and they are listed as endangered in New South Wales. The Baw Baw frog, for example, is on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 600 remaining. The reasons for this decline are unclear but could include climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, and disease.
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Frogs are found in all states and territories except Victoria and Tasmania
Frogs are remarkably versatile creatures, found in almost any Australian landscape, from rainforests to deserts, rock faces to burrows, and free water to sphagnum moss bogs. They are present in all states and territories of Australia except Victoria and Tasmania.
The Baw Baw frog, for instance, is found only in an area of about 80 square kilometres on the Baw Baw plateau in Victoria. It requires a special habitat to survive. Its tadpoles do not feed or swim; instead, they hatch with a yolk sac that nourishes them until they become frogs, developing under vegetation and leaf litter where there is little free-flowing water.
The Green Tree Frog, on the other hand, is found across the entire north of mainland Australia, from the suburbs of Darwin to the gorges of Alice Springs. They are known to live near humans, often found in cool, moist places, including laundries, letterboxes, and toilets in urban areas, as well as around waterholes and streams.
In eastern Australia, the Eastern Banjo Frog is commonly found near large ponds or lakes. It is easily identifiable by its distinctive call, which resembles the sound of a musical instrument rather than a typical frog croak.
Despite their adaptability, frog populations in Australia are in decline, with some species listed as endangered. This decline is likely due to a combination of factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and pollution.
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Frogs are found in the Australian National Botanic Gardens
Frogs are found in a variety of habitats across Australia, from rainforests to deserts, rock faces to burrows, and free water to sphagnum moss bogs. They are the only remaining amphibians in the country and play a crucial role in many food webs. Australia is home to over 200 species of native frogs, and they can be found in almost any landscape, including suburban backyards.
The Australian National Botanic Gardens is home to several species of frogs. While they may be difficult to spot, their presence is often given away by the distinctive calls of male frogs, who amplify their trilling voices to attract females. The Gardens provide an ideal habitat for these frogs, with pools, ponds, and swamps where they can breed, and logs and stones where they can shelter.
The most common frog species found in the Gardens is a small, gregarious species that is often found near the pools. They are grey or brown with blackish marblings and a distinctive pale yellow stripe from below the eye to the base of the forelimb. These frogs make a "bonk-bonk-bonk" sound, and when two or more are together, they sound like "pobblebonk."
Another common species is a stout frog, about 6-8 cm in size, with light brown to rich olive-green colouring and dark brown splotches. They are often found near permanent and temporary swamps, pools, and creeks, sheltering under logs and stones. This species has a very rapid "uk-uk-uk-uk" call.
A third species, which is less commonly found, is a small frog, up to 3 cm in size, with variable colouring and patterns. They may be light grey or brown with black sides, or have a broad dark vertebral band bordered by a light-coloured band from eye to groin.
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Frogs are found in suburban and urban areas
In suburban areas, the Southern Brown Tree Frog is a common visitor, particularly in the states of Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. These frogs can be found in gardens, parks, and near waterways, hiding under logs, in low-growing plants, or among leaf litter. The Spotted Grass Frog, also known as the Spotted Marsh Frog, is another species that inhabits suburban areas in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, parts of South Australia, and Western Australia. It can survive in both wet coastal regions and dry interiors.
The Common Eastern Froglet is a frequent visitor to backyards in suburban and urban areas, especially in south-eastern Australia. These tiny froglets, measuring only 1.8 to 3 cm in length, are happy to live in and around garden ponds, pools, and ditches of water. The Green Tree Frog, a resident of Sydney, can also be found in urban areas, seeking out cool, moist places such as laundries, letterboxes, and toilets. They are known to get into downpipes and tanks during the mating season in spring and summer.
The Northern Trilling Frog (Neobatrachus aquilonius) is a unique species that has only been recorded in urban areas so far. However, more data and citizen scientists are needed to study this species further. Urban areas, including cities, can provide habitats for threatened species such as the Red-Crowned Toadlet (Pseudophryne australis), highlighting the importance of urban spaces for biodiversity conservation.
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Frogs are found in the wild and in human environments
Frogs are remarkably adaptable creatures, and can be found in almost any Australian landscape, from rainforests to deserts, rock faces to burrows, and free water to sphagnum moss bogs. They are found in every Australian state and territory, except Victoria and Tasmania. Frogs are the only remaining amphibians in Australia, and they play a key role in many food webs, both as predators and prey.
Frogs are sensitive to environmental changes, and their presence is often a good indicator of the health of an ecosystem. Frogs have been observed to thrive in human environments, with some species, like the Green Tree Frog, often found in human dwellings, water tanks, drainpipes, toilets, and pools, especially during the mating season. The Green Tree Frog is also known to hitchhike on farm produce, particularly bananas, and animal welfare groups have developed schemes to return these stowaways to their natural habitat.
The Eastern Banjo Frog is commonly found near large ponds or lakes in eastern Australia, while the Common Eastern Froglet, a tiny frog measuring only 1.8 to 3 cm long, is the most widespread frog in south-eastern Australia, often found in suburban and urban areas, including garden ponds, pools, and ditches of water. The Bumpy Rocket Frog is found in the northern parts of Australia, particularly in Darwin backyards and northern Queensland, and is known to emerge in large numbers after heavy rains.
Some frog species, however, have very specific habitat requirements and are found only in certain localized areas. For example, the Baw Baw Frog is found only on Mount Baw Baw in Victoria, while the Corroboree Frog is found in the Kosciuszko National Park. These localized species are often endangered due to factors such as climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction.
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Frequently asked questions
Frogs are found in almost every Australian landscape, from rainforests to deserts, rock faces to burrows, and in both urban and rural areas. They can be found in backyards, gardens, and national parks.
There are over 200 species of frogs in Australia, including the Common Eastern Froglet, the Green Tree Frog, the Bumpy Rocket Frog, the Eastern Banjo Frog, the Motorbike Frog, the Baw Baw Frog, and the Red-eyed Tree Frog.
Yes, several frog species in Australia are endangered, including the Baw Baw Frog, which is found only in a small area of the Baw Baw plateau in Victoria, and the Southern Corroboree Frog, which inhabits Kosciuszko National Park.
Frogs are sensitive to environmental changes, so by observing their populations, we can get an indication of the ecosystem's health. Frog populations in Australia have been declining at an alarming rate, and this can be a warning sign of potential environmental issues.
