Site navigation

Frogs

Only a few frog species spend their entire lives in water (e.g. the presumed extinct gastric brooding frogs Rheobatrachus spp.) while other species can live outside of wetlands (e.g. microhylid species). Most frogs need some water in which to lay eggs and for tadpole development. However, not all water is in wetlands and some frogs are capable of spawning in temporary puddles in grasslands or in wheel ruts, e.g. some burrowing frogs (Cyclorana spp.).

Frog wetland indicator species and profiles

Litoria caerulea, Photo by Dr Harry Hines

Quick facts

122: frog species are known to live in Queensland[2].
214: frog species have been found so far in Australia[1].
4000: frog species have been identified worldwide[1].

Frogs living in permanent wetlands usually breed in the wet summer months. Those frogs living in the arid inland areas with ephemeral wetlands are usually burrowing frogs that lie underground, surfacing to feed and reproduce only after a rain or flood event. Breeding lasts for only as long as water is present, so the process of egg laying and tadpole development occurs relatively rapidly.

To find out more about species in your area see WetlandSummary.

For specific information on wetland species sightings please go to WetlandMaps or Wildlife Online.

Additional information

FrogID app for recording frog calls confirmed by Australian Museum.
Atlas of Living Australia provides species information, data sets, images and mapping.
AmphibiaWeb provides information on amphibian declines, natural history, conservation, and taxonomy.
Frogs Australia Network provides a portal for frog conservation across Australia.
Frogs of Australia provides a glossary, image archive, regional and field guides. For a map of Queensland or to see only frogs from a particular region in the state, see the Queensland page.

References

^ a b Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage, (2004). Frogs of Australia. [online] Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/frogs1.html [Accessed 12 July 2012].
^ Amphibian Research Centre. The frogs of Queensland. [online] Available at: http://frogs.org.au/frogs/of/Queensland/ [Accessed 12 July 2012].

Last updated: 18 June 2019

This page should be cited as:

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2019) Frogs, WetlandInfo website, accessed 20 December 2024. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ecology/components/biota/fauna/fauna-taxon/frogs/