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ADELOTUS BREVIS


TUSKED FROG


CONSERVATION STATUS

EPBC:

Unlisted

IUCN:

Near Threatened


CALLING PERIOD

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


DESCRIPTION

This small but remarkable frog has pointed “tusks” on their lower jaw. Males of
the species have much larger heads and bigger tusks than females, and they use
the tusks to fight with other males in defense of breeding sites. The quiet call
of this species is commonly heard at breeding sites throughout its range, but
this secretive and particularly aquatic species is rarely seen. A medium-sized
species of frog reaching up to 5 cm in body length. It has a dark brown or dark
grey back, with a butterfly-shaped marking between the eyes. The belly is
marbled black and white. The pupil is horizontal and the iris is golden brown.
The thighs and lower legs have bright red patches. Fingers are moderately webbed
and toes are slightly webbed, both without discs.


BREEDING BIOLOGY

Eggs are laid as a foamy mass on the surface of permanent ponds, stream pools,
water-filled crayfish holes, or cattle tracks. Tadpoles can reach a total length
of 3.5 cm and are dark brown in colour, sometimes with a cream-coloured patch on
the snout. They often remain at the bottom of water bodies and take around two
months to develop into frogs. Breeds during spring and summer.


SIMILAR SPECIES

Looks similar to Crinia deserticola, Crinia parinsignifera, Crinia signifera,
Crinia tinnula, Uperoleia fusca, Uperoleia laevigata, Uperoleia rugosa,
Paracrinia haswelli and Pseudophryne bibronii in its distribution, but the
Uperoleia species lack the butterfly-shaped marking between the eyes and the
Crinia species and Pseudophryne bibronii lack the bright red patches on the
thigh and lower leg. Paracrinia haswelli has additional bright red patches in
the armpits that are not present in Adelotus brevis.


IMAGES

Photo: Jodi Rowley

Photo: Jodi Rowley

Photo: Jodi Rowley


CALLS

By: Athol Lester


DISTRIBUTION

Found from the mid north coast of NSW to Eungella in mid north QLD along the
coast, and extending inland to the ranges. On the Nandewar and New England
Tablelands bioregions of NSW, the species is considered an endangered
population, and was only recently rediscovered west of Tenterfield after more
than a decade of no records.

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