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Pseudophryne covacevichae

Magnificent Brood Frog

Conservation Status

EPBC:

Vulnerable

IUCN:

Endangered

Calling Period

Possible
Yes
Peak
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Description

A small species of frog reaching up to 3 cm in body length. It has a grey or blue-grey back, with a bright yellow longitudinal stripe on the lower back and a large area of orange-red from the tip of the snout along the middle. The side is grey-brown with dark brown spots. The belly has black and white marbling. The pupil is horizontal, and the iris is gold. The tops of the arms are bright yellow at the shoulder. Fingers and toes are unwebbed, both without discs.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid as one small cluster on land under moist leaf litter and in muddy holes in the ground near small creeks. The nest is guarded by the male, as it is with other Pseudophryne species. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to 3.5 cm, and are dark brown-gold in colour. They are released into water bodies after the nest is flooded by rain, and may take at least one month to develop into frogs once released. Breeds during spring to summer after rain.

Similar Species

Does not look similar to any other species in its distribution.

Images

Photo: Stephen Mahony

Photo: Jodi Rowley

Calls

By: Stephen Mahony

By: Keith McDonald

By: Dave Stewart

Distribution

Found only in the Atherton Tableland near Ravenshoe in QLD. It has declined due to habitat loss and degradation.

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