Species details
Neobatrachus pictus (Painted Frog, Burrowing Frog)
Family: MYOBATRACHIDAE
Size range: Up to 58 mm long.
Regions: Central Districts, Mt Lofty Ranges & Adelaide Plains, Eyre Peninsula, Flinders Ranges, Kangaroo Island, Murray Valley, Nullarbor Plain, South East, Yorke Peninsula
Description: Painted Frogs have a body that is pale grey, brown or yellow with dark patches and a belly that is mainly white. A pale stripe runs along the middle of their back and small, black lumps or thorns cover their body. They have one or more small, usually rounded, black lumps at the base of the foot (metatarsal tubercles). Their prominent eyes with vertical pupils are a distinguishing characteristic. Their ear (tympanum) is not visible and their fingers are cylindrical without webbing. Their toes are extensively webbed.
Habitat: Living in woodland, mallee, open and disturbed areas of South Australia, the Painted Frog has no obvious site preferences.
Call description: Their call is a long, rapidly pulsed, musical trill that can be heard in the months of January, March, April, June, July, August or September.
Breeding behaviour: Painted Frogs shelter underground for most of the year, emerging after rain events to feed or breed in lagoons, ponds and temporary floodplains.
