Species details
Crinia flindersensis (Northern Flinders Ranges Froglet, Flinders Springs Froglet)
Family: MYOBATRACHIDAE
Size range: Males 16-22mm; females 19-25mm.
Regions: Flinders Ranges
Description: A small and highly variable, pale brown or grey frog, normally with bars and stripes on the body and across the limbs. Their upper body is smooth, ridged, lyrate or warty and their rough belly is white with dark irregular markings. Both the fingers and toes are long, the toes having fringes along their length.
Habitat: They are found in springs and wide, rocky creeks with intermittent flows or subject to flooding and which lack live vegetation in and around the waterbody. They occur in the northern Flinders Ranges from Black Springs, Wilkatana Station in the south to Walparindina Springs, Mount Freeling Station in the north. They shelter in cool, damp areas during hot, dry conditions.
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Call description: Unknown
Breeding behaviour: Breeding is believed to occur in winter months or other times as the opportunity arises.
Easily confused with: Crinia riparia
Interesting facts: Until 2012, this species was considered to the the same as Crinia riparia, from which it cannot be distinguished by the physical appearance of the adult frog. The appearance of tadpoles is mid-way between Crinia riparia and Crinia signifera, being rounder and with shorter, taller tails and narrower oral discs than C. riparia. Therefore, the tadpoles are less adapted to flowing waters than are those of C. riparia.
