Litoria microbelos


Javelin Frog

Photos

  • Litoria microbelos
    Photo: Adam Parsons
  • Litoria microbelos
    Photo: Adam Parsons
  • Litoria microbelos
    Photo: Stephen Mahony

Distribution

Distribution map for Litoria microbelos
Found in northern-most WA, the Top End of the NT, and the mid-north coast to Cape York region in QLD.

Conservation Status

What does it mean?

Federal Conservation Status (EPBC Act)

Unlisted

IUCN Red List

Least Concern

Photos

  • Litoria microbelos
    Photo: Adam Parsons
  • Litoria microbelos
    Photo: Adam Parsons
  • Litoria microbelos
    Photo: Stephen Mahony

Frog Calls

Call recorded by Dane Trembath

Call recorded by Paul Doughty

Calling Period

Species Information

Description

A small species of frog reaching up to 2 cm in body length. It has a brown back, with a wide, lighter brown longitudinal stripe along the middle. There is often indistinct dark brown mottling on the head. There is a dark brown stripe from the tip of the snout to the side and a white stripe underneath the eye. The belly is white. The pupil is horizontal and the iris is gold. Fingers are unwebbed and toes are one-third webbed, both without discs. A taxonomic revision of the Australian treefrogs published in June 2025 has suggested that this species be placed in the genus Mahonabatrachus, resulting in the proposed species name of Mahonabatrachus microbelos.

Habitats

Occurs in vegetation in flooded grassland, Melaleuca swamps, lagoons and billabongs.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid as small clusters attached to vegetation under the surface of the water in swamps, lagoons, billabongs, and ditches. Tadpoles can reach a total length of nearly 2.5 cm and are brown and gold in colour, with a dark longitudinal stripe from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail. They often remain at the bottom and shallow edges of water bodies, and it is unknown how long they take to develop into frogs. Breeds during spring to summer in the wet season.

Similar Species

Looks similar to Litoria bicolor, Litoria fallax, and Litoria longirostris in its distribution, but has a different back colour to Litoria bicolor and Litoria fallax, and lacks the long and very pointed snout of Litoria longirostris.