Crinia nimbus

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

A small species of frog reaching up to 3 cm in body length. It has a light brown, dark brown or reddish brown back, with darker patches. There is often a V-shaped marking between the eyes, and sometimes nearly symmetrical markings on the middle and lower back. There is a dark stripe from the nostril to behind the eye, that widens past the eye. The belly is brown, with white spots. The pupil is horizontal, and the iris is gold in the upper half and dark brown in the lower half. The legs often have horizontal bars. Fingers and toes are unwebbed, both without discs.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid as a small cluster on land in moss or lichen nests. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to 2 cm, and are dark brown in colour. They never swim in water; instead they develop inside the broken egg jelly mass, and take around 11 to 14 months to develop into frogs as they wait for winter snow to melt. Breeds during spring to summer.

Similar Species

Looks similar to Crinia signifera, Crinia tasmaniensis, and Geocrinia laevis in its distribution, but has a different call and belly colour.