Myobatrachus gouldii

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

A medium-sized species of frog reaching up to 5 cm in body length. It has a grey-brown, yellow-brown or pink back, sometimes with darker patches. The head is tiny compared to the body, which is very wide and flat. The eyes are very small and are nearly black. The belly is white, sometimes with small dark patches. The arms and legs are very short. Fingers and toes are unwebbed, both without discs. These physical features have evolved to help this species dig head first into sand, which is very rare among Australian burrowing frogs, as most burrow backwards so that their legs go under the surface first.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid on land as a single, small clutch in deep sandy burrows. There is no true tadpole stage; all development takes place entirely inside the egg before little frogs emerge, a process that takes around two months. Breeds after rain, mainly in spring to summer.

Similar Species

Does not look like any other frog, but more like a tiny alien!