Limnodynastes tasmaniensis
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Limnodynastes tasmaniensis tadpole
Copyright © Marion Anstis
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Limnodynastes tasmaniensis
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Status
IUCN Classification:
Not listed
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Bioregion occurrence:
(this is not a distribution map)
- Sub-humid Kimberly-Gulf
- Wet Tropics
- East Central Queensland
- Humid East Coast
- South-East Uplands
- Australian Alps
- Tasmania
- Victorian Lowlands
- Naracoorte-Yorke-Eyre
- Channel Country
- Eyrean Region
- Murray Darling Basin
State occurrence:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
Links
- Spottted Marsh Frog
Frogs of Victoria page on Limnodynastes tasmaniensis
Search on this family or genus
Limnodynastes tasmaniensis
Family: Myobatrachidae
Common names: Spotted Grass Frog; Spotted Marshfrog
Description: This frog is light brown to olive green on its back, with irregular darker spots and blotches. There is usually a pinkish, yellow or white stripe running down the middle of the back. A raised pale stripe runs from below the eye to the arm. The legs and arms have dark blotches like the body. The skin on the back is smooth with low warts. The belly is white and smooth. The toes have slight webbing.
Size: 45 mm
Habitat: This frog lives in many habitats from wet coastal woodlands to the dry interior regions of Australia. Typically it is found in marshy country near grass-lined streams and ponds where it shelters under logs and stones. This species is very common and often the first frog to colonise new habitats.
Call: Northern males of this species have a machine gun "uk-uk-uk-uk-uk-uk" repeated at intervals. The southern males' call has been reduced to a single shark "click" or "plock". The western males have a call that is somewhere in between these two groups. Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © David Stewart.
Breeding: Males call from the edge of the water often concealed by vegetation. The main breeding season occurs between August and March.
Eggs: Are laid in a small, often circular floating foam nest. The nest is usually amongst vegetation not far from the water's edge.
Tadpoles: Are medium in size and vary in colour depending on the clarity of the water. Tadpoles of this species can range from dark to light golden brown, translucent grey-brown or whitish gold.
Similar species: This species can be distinguished from Limnodynastes fletcheri by the regular shape of its blotches and the lack of pink/purple eyelids.
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 size stable or suspected to be 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 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 is stable or has increased. (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.