Booroolong Frog
Encyclopedia
The Booroolong Frog is a species of stream dwelling frog native to the western slopes and ranges of New South Wales
and northern Victoria
.
, this stripe is pale and thin in contrast to the closely related Stoney Creek Frog
, Litoria wilcoxi and Lesueur's Frog
Litoria lesueurii and can be used to distinguish between the species. The typanum is darker in colour. The armpit is also pale yellow. The toe discs are relatively well developed but only of a moderate size. The toes are nearly fully webbed.
This species was once abundant in streams above about 200 metres, until drastic declines began to occur in the Northern Tablelands in northern New South Wales. Although some declines have occurred in the Central Tablelands
and Southern Tablelands
of New South Wales they have not been so severe. Currently in the northern tablelands it is only found in two streams near Tamworth
as well as near Glen Innes in a private dam as seen in a video on YouTube (search Booroolong Frogs). In the central tablelands it is found along the Abercrombie River
, the Turon River
and the Winburndale Creek catchment areas. In the southern tablelands this species is still found along the Tumut River
, Yarrangobilly River
, and the upper Murray River
catchment areas. It is present at one stream in Victoria. The introduction of fish such as trout
, along with the Chytrid fungus is believed to be the main cause for decline.
This species is a stream dwelling frog, occurring in rocky western flowing rivers and streams in highland areas. It is normally associated with open woodlands, but is also found in grassland and forest. Males make a quite "quirk...quirk...quirk" call from beside streams or on bedrock within streams from late winter through to summer. An average of about 1,300 eggs are laid in a single adherent clump, attached to or under rocks, within rock pools or in still sections of streams. Hatching occurs from four to seven days after laying. Tadpoles are brown with well-developed mouth parts and reach a maximum of about 58mm. Metamorphosis occurs during summer and tadpole development takes an average of 75 days. Metamorphs from northern areas average about 15 mm while those in the south measure about 22 mm. Metamorph frogs closely resemble the adult.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and northern Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
Physical description
This frog reaches about 45 mm in length. It is normally grey, olive or brown with pale spots or mottling, normally slightly warty in appearance, the flanks are grey. It is cream on the ventral surface. The back of the thighs are pale yellow a few darker spots. There is a faint stripe that runs from the nostril to above the tympanumTympanum (zoology)
The tympanum is an external hearing structure in animals such as frogs, toads, insects, and mammals, to name a few.-Anurans:In frogs and toads, it is located just behind the eye. It does not actually process sound waves; it simply transmits them to the amphibian's inner ear, which is protected...
, this stripe is pale and thin in contrast to the closely related Stoney Creek Frog
Stoney Creek Frog
The Stoney Creek Frog, is a ground dwelling tree frog , found in Eastern Australia.-Physical description:...
, Litoria wilcoxi and Lesueur's Frog
Lesueur's Frog
Lesueur's Frog is a species of ground-dwelling tree frog native to south-eastern Australia, from Sydney, New South Wales to eastern Victoria.-Physical description:...
Litoria lesueurii and can be used to distinguish between the species. The typanum is darker in colour. The armpit is also pale yellow. The toe discs are relatively well developed but only of a moderate size. The toes are nearly fully webbed.
Behaviour and ecology
Central West, New South Wales
The Central West region refers to the area west of the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. It has an area of 63,262 square kilometers....
and Southern Tablelands
Southern Tablelands
The Southern Tablelands is a geographic area of the State of New South Wales, Australia. This area is located west of the Great Dividing Range.The area is characterised by flat country which has generally been extensively cleared and used for grazing purposes...
of New South Wales they have not been so severe. Currently in the northern tablelands it is only found in two streams near Tamworth
Tamworth, New South Wales
Tamworth is a city in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Peel River, Tamworth, which contains an estimated population of 47,595 people, is the major regional centre for southern New England and in the local government area of Tamworth Regional Council. The city...
as well as near Glen Innes in a private dam as seen in a video on YouTube (search Booroolong Frogs). In the central tablelands it is found along the Abercrombie River
Abercrombie River
The Abercrombie River is a river in New South Wales, Australia, flowing from Mount Werong westward to the Wyangala Dam near Cowra. The river is a tributary of the Lachlan, which it joins at Wyangala lake....
, the Turon River
Turon River
The Turon River is located in New South Wales. The Turon River is well renowned because it was the site of one of Australia's first alluvial gold rushes. During the gold rush Chinese migrant workers built a Water Race to bring water to mining operations along sections of the Turon River. Many parts...
and the Winburndale Creek catchment areas. In the southern tablelands this species is still found along the Tumut River
Tumut River
The Tumut River is a river in New South Wales, Australia.The Tumut River rises on the northern face of Mount Jagungal in the Snowy Mountains of southern New South Wales. It flows about 145km before joining the Murrumbidgee River, at Darbalara near the town of Gundagai...
, Yarrangobilly River
Yarrangobilly River
The Yarrangobilly River is a river of the state of New South Wales in Australia.It runs through Kosciuszko National Park, originating in the Fiery Range near Peppercorn Hill. From there it generally flows in a south-westerly direction through to the Talingbo Reservoir 40 kilometres away...
, and the upper Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
catchment areas. It is present at one stream in Victoria. The introduction of fish such as trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
, along with the Chytrid fungus is believed to be the main cause for decline.
This species is a stream dwelling frog, occurring in rocky western flowing rivers and streams in highland areas. It is normally associated with open woodlands, but is also found in grassland and forest. Males make a quite "quirk...quirk...quirk" call from beside streams or on bedrock within streams from late winter through to summer. An average of about 1,300 eggs are laid in a single adherent clump, attached to or under rocks, within rock pools or in still sections of streams. Hatching occurs from four to seven days after laying. Tadpoles are brown with well-developed mouth parts and reach a maximum of about 58mm. Metamorphosis occurs during summer and tadpole development takes an average of 75 days. Metamorphs from northern areas average about 15 mm while those in the south measure about 22 mm. Metamorph frogs closely resemble the adult.