Humming Frog

Neobatrachus pelobatoides (Werner 1914)

Species Info Card | Updated 1 decade ago

A medium-sized frog attaining a length of up to 4.5 cm. They have a flat broad head, protruding eyes and a vertical (cat-like) pupil. The back pattern and colour is quite variable although a base colour of pale green or grey with darker green or brown irregular patches is most common. Usually there is a fine pale red stripe running from the tip of the snout to the rump. Often a pale stripe is visible even if not red. The skin on the back is always granular. Males have a nuptial pad (rough patch) on inner thumb to help grasp the female during amplexus (mating embrace).

Breeding Biology

Autumn and early winter is the usual breeding time in areas of reliable winter rainfall. In the more arid parts of the south-west they are more opportunistic and tend to breed after any heavy rain. Males usually call whilst floating in the water in temporary pools or dams.

Eggs are laid in a continuous string that settles to the bottom. As many as 500 eggs may be laid by an individual female but larger numbers may be found when several females deposit eggs in the same location. Tadpoles attain a maximum length of 6 cm and are a uniform pale colour on their upper surfaces while the under surface is silvery-white. The tail is approximately one and a half times the length of the body.

Habitat

Found mostly on clay or loam soils where it burrows and remains underground during the drier parts of the year.

Etymology

pelobatoides means 'resembles Pelobates' (a genus of European frogs).

General

This species often breeds 'explosively' when it rains - all the breeding takes place in only a few short days after autumn and winter storms.

Found throughout most of the south-west, from Shark Bay to Esperance although it is absent from the extreme southwest corner of the state. Near Perth, Humming Frogs appear to be mostly confined to the Darling Ranges, although they do occur in some areas of the Swan Valley.

A low-pitched hum or trill. It is difficult to hear over long distances, and sounds similar to the call of the introduced Cane Toad.