Facts about Frogs Habitat Because frogs lose a lot of water through their permeable skin, they need a moist habitat. Most of Australian frog species live therefore in the moist northern and eastern Australia. They are most numerous in the Kimberleys, the tope end of Northern Territory, and the Cape York peninsula in northern Queensland. Many species are also found in the west-eastern WA, and in the south-east of the continent, in the states like New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
Facts about Frogs Habitat There are a few species, however, that live in the arid inland deserts of Australia. These frogs are the so-called burrowing frogs. When the wet season ends, they burrow theselves deep into the ground (up to 1m), and stay there until the rains come back. They are known to stay underground up to three years if a drought comes along.
Different Types of Frogs in Australia There are about 230 species of frogs in Australia. Australian frogs belong to six families: Hylidae, Limnodynastidae, Myobatrachidae, Ranidae and Bufonidae.
Facts about Frogs: Hylidae Hylidae is by far the largest frog family in Australia. The frogs that belong to this family are the so-called tree frogs, with expanded circular discs on the finger- and toe-tips, which enable them to climb. There are 11 species of Cyclorana frogs which burrow themselves under the ground during the dry season; 68 species of Litoria frogs that cover the whole Australia; and one Nyctimystes species - the 23 relatives of which live in New Guinea.
Different Types of Frogs: Limnodynastidae This family is exclusive to Australia except one species that is also found in New Guinea. The frogs of this family build a foam nest for their eggs. The different generas include Adelotus (with large heads); Heleioporus (bulky burrowing frogs); Philoria; Lechriodus; Neobatrachus; Notaden; and Platypectrum.
Different Types of Frogs: Microhylidae Microhylids are the frogs whose larval stages are passed inside the eggs, and there are no free living tadpoles. Almost all Microhylids live on the Cape York peninsula in north Queensland. There are at least two genera: Austrochaperina and Cophixalus.
Different Types of Frogs: Myobatrachidae This is the only frog family unique to Australia, and there are a few interesting habits within this family. Myobatrachus and Pseudophyrne are known for their ability to burrow head first. Assa frogs are known for the fact that the adult male carries tadpoles in his hip pouches. Crinia frogs are known as "froglets". Pseudophyrne frogs lay their eggs out of water. Metacrinia breeds out of water. Mixophyes push their spawn up from the stream edge onto wet soil. But most interesting of all, Rheobatrachus female swallows the fertilised eggs, broods them in her stomach, and gives birth through her mouth!
Facts about Frogs: Ranidae Just like Hylidae, Ranidae family has a global distribution. These are the frogs eaten in restaurants and used for medicines. In Australia, there is only one species of Ranidae - Rana daemeli.
Different Types of Frogs: Bufonidae And finally, Bufonidae - also represented by only one species in Australia - Bufo marinus - a poisonous, introduced species that is a pest in Australia.
NOTE: This website is written in British English, which is the English we use in Australia. You will find words like "traveller", "harbour" and "realise", and they are all correct in the language used in Australia.
