Species details
Crinia riparia (Southern Flinders Ranges Froglet, Streambank Froglet, Flinders Streams 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. The upper body is smooth, ridged, lyrate or warty and the rough belly is white or cream with dark irregular markings. Both the fingers and toes are long, the toes having fringes along their length.
Habitat: Restricted to streams and other semi-permanent waterbodies in the southern Flinders Ranges from south of Warren Gorge as far as Mambray Creek and Port Germein Gorge where there is a narrow zone of overlap with Crinia signifera. Shelters in cool, damp areas, particularly in the spaces between stones around the creek bed, during hot, dry conditions.
Call description: A soft “kra-a-a-a-a-a-ack” repeated slowly and sounding like a squeaking door.
Breeding behaviour: Breeds in late autumn or early spring, with males calling from the edges of the creek. Eggs are laid singly or in small groups attached to the under-surface of rocks and smooth stones in shallow water, at the edge of temporary or permanent creeks. Metamorphosis typically occurs in late October or November.
Easily confused with: Crinia flindersensis, Crinia signifera
Interesting facts: Tadpoles are very well adapted to fast-flowing creeks, having flattened bodies and tails and a large adhesive disc around their mouth which enables them to cling to rocks and vegetation.
