Cyclorana platycephala
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Cyclorana platycephala tadpole
Copyright © Marion Anstis
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Cyclorana platycephala
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Status
IUCN Classification:
Not listed
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Bioregion occurrence:
(this is not a distribution map)
State occurrence:
Links
- Water-holding Frog
Frog Census page about Cyclorana platycephala
Search on this family or genus
Cyclorana platycephala
Family: Hylidae
Common name: Water-holding Frog
Description: This frog can range from dull grey to dark brown to green on its back with dark patches. A pale green stripe runs down the spine. The upper lip has large brown flecks. The eyes are very small and the head is flattened. The belly is whitish and smooth or granular. The skin on the back is smooth with low warts. The toes are fully webbed.
Size: 60 mm
Habitat: This burrowing frog is found in claypans, ditches and pools. It often spends time underwater where it feed on insects, tadpoles and smaller frogs.
Call: A slow "maw-w-w" sound, a little like a motorbike. Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © David Stewart.
Breeding: Males call during spring through to late summer from beside ponds, ditches and swamps.
Eggs: Are laid in non-foamy clumps and usually over 500 eggs are laid at one time.
Tadpoles: Are large and usually dull gold in colour. They have a whole body wriggling action when they swim and they develop quickly.
Similar species: This frog can be distinguished from other species of Cyclorana by its distribution, colouration, flatness of the head and almost upward facing eyes and webbed feet.
Other characteristics: Water-holding frogs have special adaptations that allow them to live in the desert. They burrow into the soil to protect themselves from the heat and to avoid dehydration. When underground they form an external, almost waterproof cocoon, by accumulating sloughed skin that is normally eaten and reduce their energy use enormously. The cocoon reduces water loss to rates comparable to surface dwelling lizards! These frogs spend most of the year underground and are usually only seen or heard after heavy rains. Water-holding frogs absorb large quantities of water through their skin and store it in their tissues and particularly in the bladder where it can be reabsorbed later.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Direct human impact/urbanisation/tourism
- Inappropriate catchment management, including degraded water quality
- Habitat modification (e.g. vegetation clearing, invasive weeds)
Population size: An estimate of the total number of adults present in the species entire range is >50000 individuals. Some factors affecting population size and distribution are known, but 1 or more major factors are unknown.
Population trend in Australia over the past 50 years: Population trend unknown; no information on habitat changes.
Knowledge of population trend in Australia: Not currently monitored.
Population concentration: Not known to concentrate or exist in discrete locations. (e.g. the number of sites in which individuals group together either seasonally, such as breeding sites, or they may occupy discrete habitat patches within the broader landscape, such as discrete water bodies or drainage units.)
Ongoing management activities in Australia: None directed primarily at the taxon.
Reproductive potential for recovery: The average number of eggs deposited per adult female per year is 201-1000 eggs/female/year. Minimum age at which females are known or suspected to first reproduce is <2 years.
Range size in Australia: The size of the geographic area over which the taxon is distributed: 80,001-1,000,000 km² (up to 12% area of Australia or about the area of South Australia).
Distribution trend: Area occupied has declined by < 25%. (This is an estimate of change in the portion of the total range that is occupied or utilised; it may not equal the change in total range.)
Knowledge of distribution in Australia: Broad range limits or habitat associations are known, but local occurrence cannot be predicted accurately.
References
Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney.
Barker, J., G.C. Grigg and M.J. Tyler. 1995. A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty & Sons: Chipping Norton.
Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. Reed Books: Sydney.
Robinson, M. 2002. A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia. Australian Museum/Reed New Holland: Sydney.
Swan, G. 2001. Green Guide to Frogs of Australia. New Holland: Sydney.