Austrochaperina gracilipes

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

A small species of frog reaching up to 2 cm in body length. It has a grey or brown or orange-brown back, often with small dark brown or orange spots and flecks, and often a thin, pale longitudinal stripe along the middle. There is often a dark brown stripe from the tip of the snout to the arm. The belly is grey, with lighter and darker specks. The pupil is horizontal and the iris gold in the upper half and dark brown in the lower half. The armpits, groin, and back of the thighs are bright orange. Fingers and toes are unwebbed, both without discs.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid as one small cluster on land in a hidden area of moist leaf litter and the nest is guarded by the male, as it is with other Austrochaperina species. Tadpoles never swim in water; instead they develop inside the egg and hatch as little frogs after around two weeks. Breeds during summer in the wet season.

Similar Species

Looks similar to Cophixalus crepitans and Cophixalus peninsularis in its distribution, but has a longer first finger and a different call.