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Mixophyes iteratus

Giant Barred Frog

Conservation Status

EPBC:

Vulnerable

IUCN:

Endangered

Calling Period

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

Description

A large species of frog reaching up to 11.5 cm in body length. It has a yellow-brown, copper-brown or dark brown back, with several darker patches that are closely bunched along the middle of the back, but that do not usually form a continuous stripe. There is a black stripe from the nostril to past the eye, and a black triangular patch on the tip of the snout. The sides are pale yellow or cream, with small dark brown spots. The belly is white or yellow. The pupil is vertical and the iris is gold. The legs and arms have dark horizontal bars, and the backs of the thighs are black with many pale yellow or cream spots. Fingers are unwebbed and toes are fully webbed, both without discs.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are kicked out of the water by the female and stick onto muddy banks and rock faces next to stream pools. The tadpoles then drop into the water after hatching. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to 8.5 cm and are gold in colour, with black patches. They often remain on the bottom of water bodies, and take at least nine months to develop into frogs. Breeds during spring to autumn.

Similar Species

Looks similar to Mixophyes balbus, Mixophyes australis, Mixophyes fasciolatus and Mixophyes fleayi in its distribution, but has a different eye colour and different colour pattern on the backs of the thighs. It is generally larger than all of these species.

Images

Photo: Jodi Rowley

Photo: Jodi Rowley

Photo: Jodi Rowley

Calls

By: Brett Malcolm

By: Margaret Kennedy

Distribution

Found in southeast QLD through to Watagan National Park in NSW along the coast and ranges. It has declined severely due to habitat clearing and urban development, as well as the amphibian chytrid fungus.

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