Limnodynastes dumerilii
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Limnodynastes dumerilii
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Status
IUCN Classification:
Not listed
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Bioregion occurrence:
(this is not a distribution map)
- East Central Queensland
- Humid East Coast
- South-East Uplands
- Tasmania
- Victorian Lowlands
- Naracoorte-Yorke-Eyre
- Murray Darling Basin
State occurrence:
Links
- Eastern Banjo Frog
Frog Census page on Limnodynastes dumerilii
- Eastern Pobblebonk Frog
AmphibiaWeb page on Limnodynastes dumerilii
Search on this family or genus
Limnodynastes dumerilii
Family: Myobatrachidae
Common names: Eastern Banjo Frog; Grey-bellied Pobblebonk; Eastern Pobblebonk; Pobblebonk; Bullfrog
Description: This frog ranges in colour from grey, olive-green, dark brown to black on its back with dark marbling, blotches or flecks. A pale stripe runs from under the eye to the arm, above this a dark band runs from the eye to the tympanum (tight membrane covering the entrance to the ear). The belly of this frog is white - sometimes mottled with grey. The skin is warty on the back and smooth on the belly. Some individuals have a pale stripe running down the spine. The toes have some slight webbing.
Size: 70 mm
Habitat: This frog lives in many habitats including woodlands, rainforests, heathlands, farmlands and grasslands. This frog is commonly seen after rain near dams, ditches and other bodies of still or slow-moving water.
Call: A single "plonk" or "bonk" repeated at intervals. Like the string of a banjo being plucked. When one frog starts calling others usually join in. Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © David Stewart.
Breeding: Males call throughout most of the year from burrows at the water's edge or while afloat amongst vegetation. Calling is more intense after heavy rain and males will sometimes congregate in large numbers.
Eggs: Over 3500 eggs are often laid at one time in a large foam nest.
Tadpoles: Are a medium size and dark brown with dull gold clusters of colour over the top. Tadpoles spend most of their time at the bottom of ponds feeding on sediment and other vegetation.
Similar species: This species can be distinguished from Limnodynastes terraereginae by its lack of red colouration around the groin and Limnodynastes interioris by its lack of webbing.
Other characteristics: Since Limnodynastes dumerilii can vary a lot in colour, size and call, this species has been grouped by scientists into five subspecies.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Salinisation
- 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 >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%. (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.