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Limnodynastes depressus

Flat-headed Frog

Conservation Status

EPBC:

Unlisted

IUCN:

Least Concern

Calling Period

Possible
Yes
Peak
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Description

A medium-sized species of frog reaching up to nearly 5.5 cm in body length. It has a brown or brown-yellow back, with darker brown patches. The belly is white. The pupil is nearly round and the iris is gold. Fingers and toes are slightly webbed, both without discs. The head is distinctly flattened between the eyes.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid as a foamy mass on the surface of temporary ponds in flooded grassland, swamps, and billabongs. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to 10.5 cm and are gold in colour, or grey with evenly spaced brown spots. They often remain at the bottom or mid-depths of water bodies, and may take around two months to develop into frogs. Breeds during summer in the wet season.

Similar Species

Looks similar to Limnodynastes convexiusculus and Limnodynastes lignarius in its distribution, but has a different call and a more flattened head shape compared to both species. It lacks the distinct and large tympanum of Limnodynastes lignarius.

Images

Photo: Jodi Rowley

Photo: Ruchira Somaweera

Photo: Ruchira Somaweera

Calls

By: Dave Stewart

By: Paul Doughty

Distribution

Found in the eastern Kimberley region of WA and Keep River National Park in NT, both at the northern end of the WA and NT border.

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