Litoria booroolongensis
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Litoria booroolongensis tadpole
Copyright © Marion Anstis
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Litoria booroolongensis
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Status
IUCN Classification:
Critically Endangered
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Bioregion occurrence:
(this is not a distribution map)
State occurrence:
Links
- Booroolong Frog
AmphibiaWeb page on Litoria booroolongensis
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Litoria booroolongensis
Family: Hylidae
Common name: Booroolong Frog
Description: This frog is dull grey to brown on its back with darker flecks and mottling. The backs of the thighs are dark brown with pale spots. Some individuals have a dark head stripe that widens behind the eye to enclose the tympanum (tight membrane covering the entrance to the ear). The belly is granular and white or cream. The skin on the back is smooth with a few tubercles (lumps). The toes are nearly fully webbed. The finger and toe pads are visible.
Size: 45 mm
Habitat: This frog lives in mountainous areas near rocky streams. It is often found under rocks and debris.
Call: A slow "quirk-quirk-quirk". Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © David Stewart.
Breeding: Males call during spring and summer from rocks in shallow sections of mountain streams.
Eggs: Are laid into a clump that is placed under rocks in streams.
Tadpoles: Are medium sized and rusty, sandy or grey brown in colour. These tadpoles are strong swimmers and can swim against currents, darting under rocks if they sense danger.
Similar species: This frog can be distinguished from Litoria lesueri by its back colouration and webbed feet.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Inappropriate catchment management, including degraded water quality
- Exotic predators (e.g. trout, Gambusia)
- Herbicides, insecticides, eutrophication due to excessive nutrients
- Disease/pathogens (e.g. chytrid fungus, viruses)
- Global warming and other climate changes
- 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 5001-10000 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 size known to be decreasing.
Knowledge of population trend in Australia: Monitored locally.
Population concentration: Majority concentrates at more than 25 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: Management mostly related to enforcement of conservation laws.
Reproductive potential for recovery: The average number of eggs deposited per adult female per year is >1000 eggs/female/year. Minimum age at which females are known or suspected to first reproduce is 2-3 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 25-74%. (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.