The Red-backed Toadlet is a species of ground frog native to the coast and adjacent ranges of 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 just north of Sydney to South-eastern Queensland

Queensland

Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...

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Physical description

This species of frog reaches about 35m in length. It is normally red, from red-orange or red-brown on the dorsal surface, however on occasion grey-red colour morphs can occur (see image). There is a dark (normally black) "dividing" line present right down the entire side of the frog, starting from the nostril. This line separates the red dorsal surface from the strongly marbled black and white ventral surface. There is a white spot in the armpits.

Ecology and behaviour

This species is normally associated with rainforest and wet sclerphyll forest, however is also found in dry sclerophyll forest, woodland and at times cleared areas. It is normally found in areas that are frequently inundated mostly roadside ditches, creeks and temporary pools.

Males make an "ark" call, similar to most Pseudophryne species, however slight more of an elongated note compared to P. australis and P. bibronii. Males call from under moist leaf litter and rotting logs, during spring, summer and autumn, they breed after rain. As with other Pseudophryne species the male stays with the eggs in the nest site and may mate with more than one female. Eggs are laid in the nest site and tadpoles hatch after heavy rain floods the nest site and the develop in the temporary pools. Tadpole development is relatively short, due to the ephemeral nature of the pools in which they dwell.

Sources

• Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney.
• Robinson, M. 2002. A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia. Australian Museum/Reed New Holland: Sydney.
• Frogs Australia Network-frog call available here.