Nyctimystes dayi
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Nyctimystes dayi
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Status
IUCN Classification:
Endangered
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Bioregion occurrence:
(this is not a distribution map)
State occurrence:
Links
- Australian Lace-lid
Queensland Environmental Protection Agency page on Nyctimystes dayi
Search on this family or genus
Nyctimystes dayi
Family: Hylidae
Common names: Australian Lacelid; Day's Frog; Lace-eyed Tree Frog
Description: This frog is orange-brown to rich brown on its back. Some individuals have a number of cream or white spots on the head, back, arms and legs. These spots sometimes have black centres. The eyes are very large and the pupils are vertical. The belly is creamy-white or yellowish and coarsely granular. The throat and the underneath of the arms and legs are black. The upper surfaces of the arms and legs have faint banding or marbling. The skin on the back is smooth or finely granular. The fingers are nearly fully webbed and the toes are fully webbed. The toe pads are often smaller than the finger pads. The heel often has a small flap of skin.
Size: 50 mm
Habitat: This frog lives in montane areas often near fast flowing rocky streams. They are often seen on rocks and plants at the side of these streams.
Call: This frog has two distinct calls. When calling in a group the call of the breeding male is a drawn out "eeeeeeeee" repeated three or four times in succession. The calls of solitary males are a short, sharp "ee" every five to six seconds.Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © David Stewart.
Breeding: Occurs during spring and summer.
Eggs: Are large and may be laid in clumps of over 100 eggs. These clumps are laid on or under rocks, at or below the water-line.
Tadpoles: Are dark brown above and a sandy colour below. The head and body are flattened and the tail is very muscular. These tadpoles have suctorial mouths that allow them to attach to rocks and other surfaces in the fast flowing water.
Similar species: This frog can be distinguished from Litoria eucnemis and Litoria genimaculata by its unique lower eyelid and vertical pupil.
Other characteristics: The lower eyelid of this frog is unusually patterned with fine pigmented lines. They often look like fine gold or thick pearly veins.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Inappropriate catchment management, including degraded water quality
- Disease/pathogens (e.g. chytrid fungus, viruses)
Population size: An estimate of the total number of adults present in the species entire range is 5001-10000 individuals. Factors affecting population size and distribution are unknown or unsubstantiated.
Population trend in Australia over the past 50 years: Trend unknown but population size suspected to be decreasing.
Knowledge of population trend in Australia: Nation-wide monitoring, but not with statistical sensitivity.
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 51-200 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: 101-1000 km².
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: Distribution is well known and occurrence can be accurately predicted throughout the range.
References
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.