Cophixalus mcdonaldi
Mt Elliot Nursery Frog
Distribution
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Conservation Status
What does it mean?
Federal Conservation Status (EPBC Act)
IUCN Red List
Critically Endangered
Frog Calls
Call recorded by Braeden Middleton
Calling Period
- Jan
- yes
- Feb
- yes
- Mar
- yes
- Apr
- No calling
- May
- No calling
- Jun
- No calling
- Jul
- No calling
- Aug
- No calling
- Sep
- No calling
- Oct
- yes
- Nov
- yes
- Dec
- yes
Species Information
Description
A small species of frog reaching up to 2.5 cm in body length. It has a brown, light brown, or orange-red back. There is sometimes a dark horizontal stripe between the eyes, a dark V-shaped marking on the upper back, and pale eye spots on the lower back. There is a black stripe behind the eye, and a black patch above the arm on the side. The belly is cream-coloured, with darker mottling. The pupil is horizontal and outlined with a red ring; the iris is gold. Fingers and toes are unwebbed, with finger discs smaller than toe discs. The first finger is very short compared to the rest.
Habitats
Occurs in rainforest near rocky creeks.
Breeding Biology
Eggs are laid on land as a small cluster connected by a thin jelly string under leaf litter and logs. 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.