Pseudophryne australis
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Pseudophryne australis tadpole
Copyright © Marion Anstis
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Pseudophryne australis
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Status
IUCN Classification:
Vulnerable
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Bioregion occurrence:
(this is not a distribution map)
State occurrence:
Links
- Red-crowned Toadlet
Wildlife of Sydney Fact File on Pseudophryne australis
Search on this family or genus
Pseudophryne australis
Family: Myobatrachidae
Common name: Red-crowned Toadlet
Description: This frog is black or dark brown on its back with a reddish tinge or scattered red flecks. There is an orange or red triangle on the head and a stripe of the same colour running down the middle of the lower back. On the base of each arm there is a white patch. The belly is smooth and has black and white blotches or marbling. The skin on the back is smooth with low warts. The toes have no webbing.
Size: 45 mm
Habitat: This frog is found near sandstone areas within the Sydney Basin. They are often associated with temporary creeks and flooded areas, under rocks and logs.
Call: A short, grating "ark".Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © David Stewart.
Breeding: Males call after rain throughout the year from burrows or under rocks and leaf litter.
Eggs: Are laid in the burrows or nests. Over 20 large eggs are laid at a time.
Tadpoles: Are small and dark to light grey in colour, sometimes with some darker spots. These tadpoles spend most of their time on the bottom of still pools amongst the leaf litter.
Similar species: The unique patterns and colours of this frog mean it cannot be easily confused with any other species.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Direct human impact/urbanisation/tourism
- Inappropriate catchment management, including degraded water quality
- 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 >50000 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, 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 1-50 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: 1001-80000 km² (up to 1% area of Australia or about the area of Tasmania).
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: 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.