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Philoria kundagungan

Mountain Frog

Conservation Status

EPBC:

Endangered

IUCN:

Endangered

Calling Period

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

Description

A small species of frog reaching up to nearly 3 cm in body length. It has a dark red-purple, bright orange, or bright yellow back. There is sometimes a dark brown stripe from the tip of the snout to the arm. The belly is bright yellow, with a large red patch on the throat. The pupil is horizontal, and the iris is dark brown. Fingers and toes are unwebbed, both without discs. The female has large flanges on the first and second finger, which help to whip up protective foam around the eggs as they are laid.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid as a small foamy mass in shallow mud soaks, in or near small creek beds under rocks and vegetation. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to nearly 2 cm and are mostly transparent white, only developing dark brown colour in later growth stages. They often remain inside the broken-down egg mass feeding on their own yolk reserves. It is unknown how long they take to develop into frogs. Breeds during spring to summer.

Similar Species

Looks similar to Philoria knowlesi, Philoria pughi and Philoria richmondensis near its distribution, but usually has a different back colour.

Images

Photo: Jodi Rowley

Photo: Stephen Mahony

Photo: Stephen Mahony

Calls

By: Grant Webster

By: Jodi Rowley

Distribution

Found only in the ranges between the Mistake Mountains and Tooloom National Park in southeast QLD and far northern NSW.

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