Matthew Clancy

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved reptiles and amphibians (but especially frogs!). I live for discovery and there is still so much to discover in the world of amphibians. This eventually grew into a passion for wildlife photography and travel; documenting rare and threatened herpetofauna from Australia’s central deserts to the jungles of South-east Asia and remote rainforests of Papua New Guinea.

The years of studying, volunteering, research assistance and networking on herpetofauna-based projects has led me to where I am now; working as a field herpetologist studying threatened species. My current frog-related research involves leading field surveys and bioacoustic analysis in search of the elusive Giant Burrowing Frog in Victoria, and surveys and monitoring of Spotted Tree Frog populations in Victoria’s highlands. My non-frog related work involves field research and conservation efforts for a range of threatened reptiles such as Masters’ Snake, Guthega Skink, Mountain Skink and Swamp Skink to name a few.

I also have a keen interest in bioacoustics, utilising emerging technology such as song meters and bioacoustics analysis to detect rare and threatened frogs.

Qualifications

• Honours in Biosciences, University of Melbourne (2019): Research project Modelling the distribution of the endangered Howard Springs Toadlet (Uperoleia daviesae).
• Bachelor of Environmental Science (Wildlife and Conservation Biology), Deakin University, Melbourne (2017).
• Diploma of Conservation and Land Management, Melbourne Polytechnic (2014)

Other Appointments

• Frogs Victoria Committee

Publications

• Amor, D. M., Atkins, Z., Clancy, M. J., Gilbert, D., Goodall, D., Peterson, G., Lee, A. and Clemann, N. 2023. A preliminary investigation into the genetic diversity of the southern giant burrowing frog Heleioporus australiacus flavopunctatus. Unpublished report.
• Clancy, M. J. (2024). The first documented observation of the Giant Burrowing Frog (Heleioporus australiacus flavopunctatus) in amplexus. IN-PREP
• Clancy, M. J. 2014. Symptoms of envenomation by the Mitchell’s short-tailed snake, Parasuta nigriceps (Gunther, 1863): Elapidae, Herpetofauna (2017) 44(1-2): 15-17.
• Clancy, M. J. 2019. Modelling the distribution of the Howard Springs Toadlet (Uperoleia daviesae) Unpublished Honours Thesis, The School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria.
• Clancy, M. J. and Littlefair, E. L. 2020. Range extensions for the hidden-ear frog (Cyclorana cryptotis) and Main’s frog (Cyclorana maini) in the Davenport Murchison Ranges bioregion, Northern Territory, Australian Zoologist (2021) 41 (2): 194–199.
• Clancy, M. J. and Robertson, P. (2024). A record of predation of the Pink-tailed Worm-lizard (Aprasia parapulchella) by Dwyer’s Snake (Suta dwyeri) in the Goldfields bioregion of Victoria. IN-PREP
• Clancy, M. J., Peterson, G. and Atkins, Z. 2023. Refining methods for survey and monitoring of the Critically Endangered Southern Giant Burrowing Frog Heleioporus australiacus flavopunctatus in Victoria. Unpublished report.