Pseudophryne corroboree
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Pseudophryne corroboree tadpole
Copyright © Marion Anstis
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Pseudophryne corroboree
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
- Southern Corroboree Frog
ARKive page on Pseudophryne corroboree (including video footage)
- Southern Corroboree Frog (Questionable link)
Department of Environment and Heritage page about Pseudophryne corroboree
Search on this family or genus
Pseudophryne corroboree
Family: Myobatrachidae
Common name: Southern Corroboree Frog
Description: This frog has bright yellow and black striped markings on the top and sides of its body and legs. The belly is marbled black and white or black and yellow. The skin on the back is slighly granular with low warts. The warts form ridges that run down the length of the body. The skin on the belly is smooth. The toes are not webbed.
Size: 30 mm
Habitat: This frog lives in the Australian Alps. It is found in marshlands and sclerophyll forests under logs and vegetation. It likes to breed in the sphagnum bogs.
Call: A short, grating "ark" repeated at regular intervals.
Breeding: This frog has a short breeding season because it lives in such cold environments. In the summer months males call from concealed sites in sphagnum bogs and mating occurs in depressions in the sphagnum moss. Females lay their eggs in nests that are hollowed out near the roots of sphagnum clumps. The embryos develop inside the eggs and the tadpoles hatch out when the winter rains or the melting snow (in spring) flood the nest.
Eggs: Are 3.5 mm in diameter and laid in clutches of 10-30.
Tadpoles: Are small in size and black to brown in colour. As the tadpoles approach metamorphosis their gold and black colour patterns become evident.
Similar species: This species can only be confused with Pseudophryne pengilleyi from which it was recently split. It can be distinguished from this species by its gold colouration (as opposed to lime-yellow of P. pengilleyi) and its distribution.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Direct human impact/urbanisation/tourism
- Inappropriate catchment management, including degraded water quality
- Exotic predators (e.g. trout, Gambusia)
- 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. 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 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 75-100%. (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.