Taudactylus acutirostris
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Taudactylus acutirostris
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
- Sharp-snouted Dayfrog
Queensland Environmental Protection Agency page on Taudactylus acutirostris
Search on this family or genus
Taudactylus acutirostris
Family: Myobatrachidae
Common names: Sharp Snouted Day Frog; Sharp-nosed Torrent Frog; Tinker Frog
Description: This frog is olive-brown on its back with paler flecks. Broad black bands run along the sides of the body from the snout. The back and sides of the body are separated by a distinctive pale fold. The legs are the same colour as the back with dark cross-bars. The belly is smooth and grey white with black flecks. There is a white patch, edged with black, at the base of each arm. The groin and undersides of the arms and legs are yellow. The snout is pointed and sticks out beyond the lower jaw. The toes have no webbing.
Size: 30 mm
Habitat: This frog lives in montane forests in north-east Queensland. It is found amongst rocks and plants beside small mountain streams.
Call: This frog has two types of calls. A high pitched metallic "tink…tink…tink", repeated several times in quick succession. The second call is a high-pulsed "eek…eek…eek", described as a popping sound or a short scratchy chirp.Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © David Stewart.
Breeding: Males call from among the rocks and litter close to a stream all year round.
Eggs: Females lay 25-40 large eggs in a gelatinous clump on the undersides of rocks, at or below the waterline in flowing creeks.
Tadpoles: Are small and dark in colour. These tadpoles have large rounded mouths that they use to hang onto rocks in fast-flowing streams.
Similar species: This frog is easily distinguished from other species by its pointed snout and the contrasting colours of its back and sides, separated by the pale fold.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Inappropriate catchment management, including degraded water quality
- Disease/pathogens (e.g. chytrid fungus, viruses)
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, 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: 101-1000 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
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.
Swan, G. 2001. Green Guide to Frogs of Australia. New Holland: Sydney.