Striped Marsh Frog

Scientific name: Limnodynastes peronii

Updated

02/12/20
Read time

2 minutes

Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii) — A large species of frog reaching up to 7.5 cm in body length. It has a brown back with dark brown longitudinal stripes, and sometimes a cream-coloured or reddish stripe along the middle. There is a pale stripe from under the eye to the top of the arm. The belly is white, and the male has a pale yellow throat with brown mottling. The pupil is horizontal and the iris is gold. Fingers and toes are unwebbed, both without discs. The male has distinctly larger forearms than the female. Image: Jodi Rowley
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

Classification

Species

peronii

Genus

Limnodynastes

Family

Myobatrachidae

Order

Anura

Subclass

Lissamphibia

Subphylum

Vertebrata

Phylum

Chordata

Kingdom

Animalia
Size Range

6.5 cm

Introduction

One of the most common frogs of the eastern coast of Australia, the Striped Marsh Frog is found from northern Queensland to Tasmania.

Habitat

The Striped Marsh Frog is predominantly a pond-dweller but nearly any kind of water will do, including fish ponds and polluted ditches. It is an adaptable frog and often encountered in urban environments. It even occasionally shows up in suburban swimming pools and has been recorded breeding in dogs' water dishes.

Distribution

The Striped Marsh Frog is found throughout eastern Australia.

Communication

The male Striped Marsh Frog's call is a loud 'tok' or 'whuck', which sounds very much like a tennis ball being struck. It can be heard all year round, calling while floating in water or from close to the water's edge.

Breeding behaviours

During spawning, the female Striped Marsh Frog makes a floating foam or bubble raft in which the fertilised eggs are suspended. The tadpoles hatch after a few days and drop into the water as the nest-raft disintegrates.