Heleioporus inornatus

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

A large species of frog reaching up to 7.5 cm in body length. It has a grey-brown or brown back, sometimes covered with white, pale grey, or pale yellow mottling. The belly is white and the sides have small white spots. The pupil is vertical and the iris is grey. Fingers are unwebbed and toes slightly webbed, both without discs. Adult males have small black spines on their fingers during the breeding season.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid as a foamy mass out of the water inside burrows near dry swampy areas. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to 5 cm and are dark brown or reddish-brown in colour, with some black specks. They escape into water bodies after their burrows are flooded, taking three to five months to develop into frogs. Breeds during autumn before winter rains.

Similar Species

Looks similar to Heleioporus albopunctatus, Heleioporus barycragus, Heleioporus eyrei, and Heleioporus psammophilus in its distribution, but lacks the yellow stripe from the eye to the arm present in Heleioporus barycragus, and distinct white or cream spots on the back as present in Heleioporus albopunctatus. It can most easily be distinguished from Heleioporus eyrei and Heleioporus psammophilus by its call.