"Fletcher's Frog" may also refer to the Long-thumbed Frog

Long-thumbed Frog

The Long-thumbed Frog, Fletcher's Frog or Barking Marsh Frog is a species of ground dwelling frog native to southeastern Australia.-Physical description:...

 (Limnodynastes fletcheri)

Fletcher's Frog or Sandpaper Frog (Lechriodus fletcheri) is a species of ground frog native to eastern Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

 from South-east QLD to Ourimbah, NSW. It inhabits rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest of the coast and ranges.

Physical description

This is medium sized frog, getting to about 50mm in length. It is brown on the dorsal surface, however can range from light tan to dark or red brown. Its skin is rough in texture and feels like sandpaper. There are raised skin fold

Skin fold

Skin folds are areas of skin where it folds. Many skin folds are distinct, heritable anatomical features, and may be used for identification of animal species, while others are non-specific and may be produced either by individual development of an organism or by arbitrary application of force to...

s that run down the frogs back and a distinct triangle of lighter brown on the frogs head (between the eyes and snout). There is a dark line that starts at the nostril, extends through the eye and curves around the tympanum. There are crossbands on the legs, this may cause confusion with similar looking Mixophyes frogs. The toes and fingers are both free of webbing.

Ecology and behaviour

This species inhabits rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest. It is very active after heavy rains in summer and is rarely seen in drier conditions. Males make a short gar-r-r-up call from leaf litter around temporary pools and small streams. Up to 650 eggs are laid in a foamy mass and tadpoles are notoriously cannibalistic.

These frogs camouflage very well with leaf litter and can be very difficult to find if they are not active.

Sources

• Frogs Australia Network-frog call available here.
• Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney.