Crinia tinnula

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

A small species of frog reaching up to nearly 2 cm in body length. It has a brown, grey, cream, beige or reddish back, sometimes with longitudinal stripes or patches. The belly is white, with small black patches and a distinct pale stripe down the middle that extends along the throat. The pupil is horizontal, and the iris is gold. The legs have brown horizontal bars. Fingers and toes are unwebbed and large relative to body size; both are without discs.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid singly and in small groups in temporary rock pools, swamps and creeks, where they are attached under rocks or to vegetation under the surface of the water. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to about 3.5 cm, and are brown, gold or reddish in colour, sometimes with small dark or red spots. Tadpoles are strong swimmers that remain at the bottom of water bodies and take about two to six months to develop into frogs. Breeds during any time of the year.

Similar Species

Looks similar to Crinia signifera, Crinia parinsignifera, Uperoleia fusca, Uperoleia laevigata, and Uperoleia rugosa in its distribution, but all of these species lack a white belly stripe, and Crinia tinnula lacks the bright thigh colours present in the Uperoleia species.