Striped marsh frog

Scientific Name: Limnodynastes peronii

This frog is commonplace on the east coast of Australia and has a distinctive “thok” sound that it makes nightly throughout the year. It is light to dark brown with darker stripes and blotches and a whitish stripe running down the centre of its body. It grows to 6.5 centimetres long and its toes have hardly any webbing.

Habitat:

Found along the east coast of Australia from northern Queensland (though not the tip of Cape York) through NSW to Victoria and Tasmania, the frogs live anywhere near still water, even if that water is mildly polluted or close to humans. They are common around urban frog ponds and have even been known to breed in a dog’s water bowl. During the day the frogs shelter in leaf litter, under rocks, in pipes or wherever they can find a hiding spot.

Diet:

Insects of any kind, plus spiders.

Reproduction:

Mating occurs in water, usually in the warmer months, with males calling from the water to attract females. Up to 1000 eggs are laid in a floating foamy raft. Tadpoles hatch after a few days and are large and dark grey to black. Tadpoles take 8-12 months to develop into frogs.