Philoria frosti
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Philoria frosti tadpoles
Copyright © Marion Anstis
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Philoria frosti
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
- Baw Baw Frog
Frogs of Victoria page on Philoria frosti
Search on this family or genus
Philoria frosti
Family: Myobatrachidae
Common name: Baw Baw Frog
Description: This frog is dark brown on its back with some scattered dark flecks and light patches. The large parotoid glands above the shoulders are dark brown or black. Between the eyes there are some yellow or cream markings, which occasionally continue in a light band down the spine. The belly is smooth and cream or yellow with brown flecks. The skin on the back is rough with low warts. The toes are not webbed.
Size: 45 mm
Habitat: This frog is only known from Mount Baw Baw in Victoria. It is often found under rocks and logs near streams or in sphagnum bogs.
Call: Complex and variable "clunk" or "uk…uk…uk" repeated at intervals.Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © Murray Littlejohn.
Breeding: Males call during late spring from burrows in sphagnum moss or depressions under rocks and logs.
Eggs: The females lay 50 - 100 large eggs in small foam nests. The nests are located in damp depressions in the ground. This nests break down into a watery jelly which the tadpoles hatch into.
Tadpoles: Are small and dark brown to black in colour. Tadpoles of this frog usually remain within their jelly nest until they metamorphose.
Similar species: This frog is unlikely to be confused with any other species due to its colouration and distribution.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Direct human impact/urbanisation/tourism
- 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 0-1000 individuals. All major factors affecting population size and distribution are known.
Population trend in Australia over the past 50 years: Population size known to be decreasing.
Knowledge of population trend in Australia: Nation-wide monitoring with statistical sensitivity, or nearly complete census.
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: Some direct management/interventionist (i.e. manipulation of natural populations) activities in addition to enforcement of conservation law.
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 4-6 years.
Range size in Australia: The size of the geographic area over which the taxon is distributed: < 100 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
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.