Pseudophryne pengilleyi tadpole
Copyright © Marion Anstis
Status
IUCN Classification:
Endangered
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Bioregion occurrence:
(this is not a distribution map)
State occurrence:
Links
- Northern Corroboree Frog
ACT Urban Services Fact Sheet on Pseudophryne pengilleyi
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Pseudophryne pengilleyi
Family: Myobatrachidae
Common names: Northern Corroboree Frog; Northern Brood Frog
Description: This frog has bright lime-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: 35 mm
Habitat: This frog is found in the Brindabella and Fiery Ranges. In these habitats it lives in marshlands and sclerophyll forests under logs and vegetation.
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 flood the nest.
Eggs: Are large and laid in clutches of 20-30. More than one female may breed with the same male, and nests may contain more than one clutch.
Tadpoles: Are small in size and black to brown in colour. As the tadpoles approach metamorphosis their lime-yellow and black colour patterns become evident.
Similar species: This species can only be confused with Pseudophryne corroboree from which it was recently split. It can be distinguished from this species by its lime-yellow colouration (as opposed to the gold of P. corroboree) and its distribution.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Inappropriate fire regimes
- Exotic predators (e.g. trout, Gambusia)
- Global warming and other climate changes
Population size: An estimate of the total number of adults present in the species entire range is 1000-5000 individuals, or population size is unknown but suspected to be small. 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, 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 2-3 years.
Range size in Australia: The size of the geographic area over which the taxon is distributed: 101-1000 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.