Australian Frog Database

Australian Frogs

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Assa darlingtoni

Family: Myobatrachidae
Common names: Pouched Frog; Marsupial Frog; Australian Marsupial Frog; Hip-pocket Frog

Description: This frog ranges from grey to red-brown in colour on its back. Some individuals have inverted V-shaped dark bars on their backs - these bars can start between the eyes while others start mid-way down the back. There is often a dark broken streak that runs from the nostril through the eye and down each side of the body. The sides are dark grey to black and the belly is cream with brown mottling. The fingers and toes are unwebbed but all are slightly swollen at the tip.

Size: 30 mm

Habitat: This frog lives in Antarctic Beech forests and surrounding rainforests. It is usually found in damp leaf litter or under rocks and logs.

Call: A series of fast repeated "eh eh eh eh eh eh..." sounds. Usually between six and ten notes. Call available in Windows Media or Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © David Stewart.

Breeding: These frogs do not need water to breed. The female lays her eggs on the ground and both sexes guard them. When the tadpoles hatch out the male climbs amongst the eggs and coats himself in the jelly. This allows the tadpoles to slide over the male's body and wriggle into the skin pockets along his sides. The tadpoles leave the pouch when they are fully developed frogs.

Eggs: Single jelly masses about 1 cm - 3 cm across contain the eggs.

Tadpoles: Are very small and dark brown in colour. They develop in the skin pouches of the male frog.

Similar species: The only similar species found in the same area is Philoria loveridgei but it lacks a distinctive pattern on its back and its fingers and toes do not have swollen tips.

Conservation Information

Suspected threatening processes

• Direct human impact/urbanisation/tourism
• Inappropriate fire regimes
• 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 10001-50000 individuals, or size is unknown but suspected to be large. 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 formerly experienced serious declines but is presently stable or increasing.

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 1-50 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%. (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

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.