Spotted Marsh Frog

Scientific name: Limnodynastes tasmaniensis

Updated

04/02/21
Read time

2 minutes

Fast Facts

Classification

Species

tasmaniensis

Genus

Limnodynastes

Family

Myobatrachidae

Order

Anura

Subclass

Lissamphibia

Subphylum

Vertebrata

Phylum

Chordata

Kingdom

Animalia
Size Range

4.5 cm

Description

A medium-sized species of frog reaching up to nearly 5 cm in body length. It has a grey-brown or olive-green back with darker olive-green or brown patches. There is often a pale cream-coloured or red longitudinal stripe along the middle of the back. There is a cream-coloured stripe from under the eye to the top of the arm. The belly is white, and the male has a yellow throat during the breeding season. The pupil is nearly round and the iris is gold. Fingers are unwebbed and toes are slightly webbed, both without discs.

Similar Species

Looks similar to Limnodynastes convexiusculus, Limnodynastes fletcheri, Limnodynastes peronii, and Limnodynastes salmini in its distribution, but lacks the multiple longitudinal stripes of Limnodynastes peronii and the salmon-pink or orange side stripes of Limnodynastes salmini. It also lacks the purple or pink patches above the eyes that are present in Limnodynastes fletcheri, and has a different call to Limnodynastes convexiusculusi.

Distribution

Found along the entire east coast and inland NSW and QLD, all of VIC, the ACT, the eastern half of TAS, and southeast SA.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid as a foamy mass on the surface of dams, temporary or permanent ponds, flooded paddocks, and roadside ditches. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to nearly 7 cm, and are whitish gold, dark brown, or light golden brown in colour. They often remain at the bottom of water bodies, and take at least three and a half months to develop into frogs. Breeds during spring to autumn, but also in winter after heavy rain.