Cophixalus hinchinbrookensis

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

A small species of frog reaching up to 2.5 cm in body length. It has a brown back, with black or pale yellow mottling. There is often a dark horizontal stripe between the eyes and a dark W-shaped marking on the upper back. There is sometimes a pale cream-coloured, yellow, or orange longitudinal stripe along the middle of the back, and pale yellow eye-spots on the lower back. There is a small black stripe behind the eye. The belly is pale brown or cream-coloured, with white flecks. The pupil is horizontal and outlined with a red ring; the iris is gold. Fingers and toes are unwebbed, both with large discs. The first finger is very short compared to the rest.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid on land as a small cluster connected by a thin jelly string under rocks, logs, and vegetation. The nest is guarded by the male, as it is with other Cophixalus species. Tadpoles never swim in water; instead they develop entirely inside the egg and hatch as little frogs. It is unknown how long they take to develop into frogs, but Cophixalus ornatus eggs have been recorded taking 28 days to hatch. Breeds during spring to summer after rain.

Similar Species

Does not look similar to any other species in its distribution.