List of Australian amphibian genera

This is a list of all known Australian amphibians. The amphibian fauna of Australia consists of roughly 230 species in five families. All Australian amphibians are in the order Anura (frogs and toads) and 93% of them are endemic. Australia naturally shares species with New Guinea and adjacent islands, however four Australian species have been introduced into New Zealand and the Cane Toad has been introduced into Australia. This list included recently extinct Australian amphibians.

Conservation status

Conservation status ranks are listed beside each species. Classifications are taken from the IUCN RedList. They appear as the following:

(EX) Extinct - When there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died and extensive surveys through its historic range, during appropriate times (diurnal, nocturnal, seasonal, annual) have failed to record an individual.
(CR) Critically Endangered - When populations size has shown an 80% or higher, decreased in size, or population numbers are estimated to be 250 mature individuals, or less or when geographic range is restricted to 100km² or less, or when quantitative analysis shows that the probability of extinction in the wild is at least 50% in the future.
(EN) Endangered - When populations size has shown a decrease of 70% - 50%, or population numbers are estimated to be between 2,500 and 250 mature individuals, or when geographic range is restricted to between 5000km² and 500km², or when quantitative analysis shows that the probability of extinction in the wild is at least 20% in the future.
(VU) Vulnerable - When populations size has shown a decrease of 50% - 30%, or population numbers are estimated to be between 10,000 and 1000 mature individuals, or when geographic range is restricted to between 20,000km² and 2,000km², or when quantitative analysis shows that the probability of extinction in the wild is at least 10% in the future.
(NT) Near Threatened - When a taxon has been evaluated against the criteria for being listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable and does not qualify, but is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.
(LC) Least Concern - When a taxon has been evaluated against the criteria for being listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable or Near Threatened and does not qualify and it is unlikely to qualify in the near future. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.
(DD) Data Deficient - When there is inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect assessment of its risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status.
(I) Introduced - When there is a population established solely as result of direct or indirect human intervention.

Note: Further information on species classification can be found at the IUCN RedList Categories & Criteria

Toads

Family: Bufonidae Genus: Bufo

The Cane Toad (Bufo marinus) is an introduced pest that was brought from Hawaii in 1935 and set free in several locations throughout Queensland. It is the only species of amphibian that has been introduced into Australia and not died out. The Cane Toad is native to the Americas and occurs from the Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas to central Amazon and south-eastern Peru. Outside Australia it has been introduced throughout most Pacific and Carribean islands, aswell as Florida, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and the Ogasawara and Ryukyu Islands of Japan.

Cane Toad Bufo marinus

Water-holding frogs

Family: Hylidae Sub-family: Pelodryadinae Genus: Cyclorana

This genus only occurs in Australia and consists of stout-shaped burrowing frogs. Although being classified in the Hylidae family this genus is entirely terrestrial, skeletal and tadpole similarities between Cyclorana and Litoria lead to classification in the tree frog family. As their common name suggests the frogs of this genus have the ability to store large amounts of water in their bladders. This water is absorbed during periods of drought when the frogs burrow and become dormant.

Striped Burrowing Frog, Cyclorana alboguttata
Giant Frog, Cyclorana australis
Short-footed Frog, Cyclorana brevipes
Hidden-ear Frog, Cyclorana cryptotis
Knife-footed Frog, Cyclorana cultripes
Long-footed Frog, Cyclorana longipes
Daly Waters Frog, Cyclorana maculosa
Main's Frog, Cyclorana maini
Creek Frog, Cyclorana manya
New Holland Frog, Cyclorana novaehollandiae
Water-holding Frog, Cyclorana platycephala
Wailing Frog, Cyclorana vagitus
Rough Frog, Cyclorana verrucosa

Tree frogs

Family: Hylidae Sub-family: Pelodryadinae Genus: Litoria

Litoria is a genus native to Australia, Bismarck Archipelago, Lesser Sunda Islands, Moluccan Islands, New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor. The species within this genus are very variable in appearance, behaviour and habitat hence the separation of this genus in to "species groups" or "complexes". The appearance, behaviour and habitat of Litoria species are usually linked. Predominantly brown species are generally terrestrial, rarely climbing and some lack enlarged toe discs, while the predominantly green species are usually arboreal. Each complex represents a group of closely related species that almost always share the same body shape, habitat and behaviour. An example of this is the "Bell Frog" complex. This complex consists of 6 species that are scattered throughout Australia. Each breed in still water, have elongated bodies with almost complete toe webbing, release a slimy mucus when handled, are largely aquatic and are active during daylight hours.

Slender Tree Frog, Litoria adelaidensis

Cape Melville Tree Frog, Litoria andiirrmalin
Green and Golden Bell Frog, Litoria aurea
Mountain Stream Tree Frog, Litoria barringtonensis
Northern Dwarf Tree Frog, Litoria bicolor
Booroolong Frog, Litoria booroolongensis
Green Thighed Frog, Litoria brevipalmata
Tasmanian Tree Frog, Litoria burrowsae
White's Tree Frog, Litoria caerulea
Yellow-spotted Tree Frog, Litoria castanea
Cave-dwelling Frog, Litoria cavernicola

Red-eyed Tree Frog, Litoria chloris
Blue Mountains Tree Frog, Litoria citropa
Cooloolah Tree Frog, Litoria cooloolensis
Copland’s Rock Frog, Litoria coplandi
Spotted-thighed Frog, Litoria cyclorhynchus
Dahl’s Tree Frog, Litoria dahlii
Davies' Tree Frog, Litoria daviesae
Bleating Tree Frog, Litoria dentata
Dwarf Rocket Frog, Litoria dorsalis
Buzzing Tree Frog, Litoria electrica

Fringed Tree Frog, Litoria eucnemis
Brown Tree Frog, Litoria ewingii
Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog, Litoria fallax
Freycinet's Frog, Litoria freycineti
New Guinea Tree Frog, Litoria genimaculata
Centralian Tree Frog, Litoria gilleni
Dainty Green Tree Frog, Litoria gracilenta
Bumpy Rocket Frog, Litoria inermis
Giant Tree Frog, Litoria infrafrenata
Jervis Bay Tree Frog, Litoria jervisiensis

Litoria jungguy
Broad Palmed Frog, Litoria latopalmata
Lesueur's Frog, Litoria lesueurii
Littlejohn's Tree Frog, Litoria littlejohni
Long-snouted Frog Litoria longirostris
Armoured Frog, Litoria lorica
Rockhole Frog, Litoria meiriana
Javelin Frog Litoria microbelos
Western Green and Golden Bell Frog, Litoria moorei
Torrent Tree Frog, Litoria nannotis

Rocket Frog, Litoria nasuta
Bridled Frog, Litoria nigrofrenata
Southern Leaf Green Tree Frog, Litoria nudidigitus
Nyakala Frog, Litoria nyakalensis
Olongburra Frog, Litoria olongburensis
Pale Frog, Litoria pallida
Red Cryptic Tree Frog, Litoria paraewingii
Pearson's Green Tree Frog, Litoria pearsoniana
Peron's Tree Frog, Litoria peronii
Masked Frog, Litoria personata

Leaf Green Tree Frog, Litoria phyllochroa
Peppered Tree Frog, Litoria piperata
Growling Grass Frog, Litoria raniformis
Revealed Frog, Litoria revelata
Common Mist Frog, Litoria rheocola
Roth's Tree Frog, Litoria rothi
Desert Tree Frog, Litoria rubella
Spotted Tree Frog, Litoria spenceri
Magnificent Tree Frog, Litoria splendida
New England Tree Frog, Litoria subglandulosa
Tornier's Frog, Litoria tornieri
Tyler's Tree Frog, Litoria tyleri
Verreaux's Tree Frog, Litoria verreauxii
Stoney Creek Frog, Litoria wilcoxi
Watjulum Frog, Litoria wotjulumensis
Orange-thighed Frog, Litoria xanthomera

Big-eyed tree frogs

Family: Hylidae Sub-family: Pelodryadinae Genus: Nyctimystes

This principally Papuan genus of tree frog also occurs in the Moluccas and northern Queensland, Australia. They are separable from other Hylidae by the patterning of lines, veins and dots on the lower eyelid. This feature presumable acts as camouflage when the frog is at rest during the day. Each species of this genus inhabits tropical or subtropical montane rainforests. Out of the 24 species in this genus only one occurs in Australia.

Australian Lace-lid, Nyctimystes dayi

Nursery frogs

Family: Microhylidae Sub-family: Genyophryninae Genus: Austrochaperina

Northern Territory Frog, Austrochaperina
Fry’s Frog, Austrochaperina fryi
Slender Frog, Austrochaperina gracilipes
Rain Frog, Austrochaperina pluvialis
Robust Frog, Austrochaperina robusta

Rainforest frogs

Family: Microhylidae Sub-family: Genyophryninae Genus: Cophixalus

Tapping Nursery Frog, Cophixalus aenigma
Buzzing Frog, Cophixalus bombiens
Elegant Frog, Cophixalus concinnus
Rattling Frog, Cophixalus crepitans
Scanty Frog, Cophixalus exiguus
Hosmer’s Frog, Cophixalus hosmeri
Inelegant Frog, Cophixalus infacetus
Mcdonald’s Frog, Cophixalus mcdonaldi
Mountain-top Nursery Frog, Cophixalus monticola
Neglected Frog, Cophixalus neglectus
Ornate Frog, Cophixalus ornatus
Cape York Frog, Cophixalus peninsularis
Rock Frog, Cophixalus saxatilis
Cophixalus zweifeli

Tusked Frog

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Limnodynastinae Genus: Adelotus

The single species in this genus is endemic to Australia. The Tusked Frog is a ground-dwelling species and is unusual and unique in that the males are generally large than the females and possess "tusks" on the lower jaw. They occur along the eastern coast of Australia from Eungella National Park, Queensland south to Ourimbah, New South Wales. They are associated with most still water bodies in rainforests, wet sclerophyll forests and open grasslands.

Tusked Frog, Adelotus brevis

Giant burrowing frogs

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Limnodynastinae Genus: Heleioporus

Endemic to Australia, with five species occurring in south-western Australia and one in south-eastern Australia, this genus consists of medium to large sized frogs that have rounded heads, stout bodies and bulging eyes. When mature the male's first and occasionally second and third fingers of all (except for Heleioporus eyrei and some Heleioporus psammophilus) species of this genus have large black nuptial spines. All of the species burrow and eggs are deposited in a foam mass.

Western Spotted Frog, Heleioporus albopunctatus
Giant Burrowing Frog, Heleioporus australiacus
Western Marsh Frog, Heleioporus barycragus
Moaning Frog, Heleioporus eyrei
Plains Frog, Heleioporus inornatus
Sand Frog, Heleioporus psammophilus

Cannibal frogs

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Limnodynastinae Genus: Lechriodus

Lechriodus is a genus of ground-dwelling frog native to Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. They are a medium sized frog and the dorsal skin has a sandpaper like texture. They are unique amongst myobatrachids genera in that there is more species that occur in New Guinea (3) than in Australia (1). In Australia the single Lechriodus species inhabits rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest and are active after heavy rains in summer and rarely seen during drier conditions. Breeding takes place in temporary pools and small streams and the tadpoles as well as the frogs are noted for their cannibalistic behaviour.

Fletcher's Frog Lechriodus fletcheri

Australian swamp frogs

Eastern Banjo Frog (*Limnodynastes dumerilii grayi*)

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Limnodynastinae Genus: Limnodynastes

Native to only Australia, southern New Guinea and some Torres Strait Islands this genus of ground-dwelling frogs ranges between 45 mm and 90 mm in length. It consists of 11 species with one species (Limnodynastes dumerilii) broken up into five sub-species. They are all predominately brown - grey frogs and the fingers and toes may have a trace of webbing. Some species have the ability to burrow and all create a foam nest, in which the eggs are laid. The Woodworker Frog (Limnodynastes lignarius) is sometimes classed in a separate genus Megistolotis. In 2006 both Limnodynastes ornatus and Limnodynastes spenceri were moved to the resurrected genus Opisthodon.

Marbled Frog, Limnodynastes convexiusculus
Flat-headed Frog, Limnodynastes depressus
Western Banjo Frog, Limnodynastes dorsalis
Eastern Banjo Frog, Limnodynastes dumerilii

Limnodynastes dumerilii dumerilii
Limnodynastes dumerilii grayi
Limnodynastes dumerilii fryi
Limnodynastes dumerilii insularis
Limnodynastes dumerilii variegata

Long-thumbed Frog, Limnodynastes fletcheri
Giant Banjo Frog, Limnodynastes interioris
Woodworker Frog, Limnodynastes lignarius
Striped Marsh Frog Limnodynastes peronii
Salmon-striped Frog, Limnodynastes salmini
Spotted Grass Frog, Limnodynastes tasmaniensis
Northern Banjo Frog, Limnodynastes terraereginae

Barred frogs

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Limnodynastinae Genus: Mixophyes

Mixophyes is a ground-dwelling genus that occurs in Australia and New Guinea. Inhabiting rainforests and wet sclerophyll forest along the east coast of Australia, this genus consists of large, brown frogs all of which have webbed toes and barring on their legs. All species breed in streams and the Great Barred Frog has the ability to breed in ponds and dams. The tadpoles are large and streamline. Eggs are either kicked onto the bank after being laid or deposited in a shallow nest in or next to the stream.

Stuttering Frog, Mixophyes balbus
Great Barred Frog, Mixophyes fasciolatus
Fleay's Barred Frog, Mixophyes fleayi
Giant Barred Frog, Mixophyes iteratus
Northern Barred Frog, Mixophyes schevilli

Stubby frogs

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Limnodynastinae Genus: Neobatrachus

Endemic to Australia this genus consists of medium sized terrestrial burrowing frogs. Occurring in every state accept Tasmania they are absent from much of northern Australia and Queensland. They inhabit arid regions and are typically found in areas that when wet have flooded grassland and claypans. There is only slight variation between species; all are squat, large eyed, have short limbs and the feet are partially webbed. Breeding occurs in static water were approximately 1000 eggs are laid in a chain.

White-footed Frog, Neobatrachus albipes
Northern Burrowing Frog, Neobatrachus aquilonius
Trilling Frog, Neobatrachus centralis
Tawny Frog, Neobatrachus fulvus
Kunapalari Frog, Neobatrachus kunapalari
Humming Frog, Neobatrachus pelobatoides
Painted Frog, Neobatrachus pictus
Sudell's Frog, Neobatrachus sudelli
Showmaker Frog, Neobatrachus sutor
Goldfields Bull Frog, Neobatrachus wilsmorei

Australian spadefoot toads

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Limnodynastinae Genus: Notaden

Notaden is a genus of burrowing frogs native to central and northern Australia. All have round bodies, short heads and stubby arms and legs. The fingers are free from webbing and the webbing between the toes is slight or lacking. The skin is slightly warty and highly glandular and the eggs are laid in long chains. These characteristic have led to them being wrongly referred to as toads. When handled they secret as creamy adhesive. These secretions are known to be poisonous.

Crucifix Toad, Notaden bennettii
Northern Spadefoot Toad, Notaden melanoscaphus
Desert Spadefoot Toad, Notaden nichollsi
Weigel's Toad, Notaden weigeli

Opisthodon

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Limnodynastinae Genus: Opisthodon

Separated from Limnodynastes in 2006, Opisthodon is a terrestrial genus and both species have the ability to burrow. Native to Australia and some Torres Striat Islands they can be found in a range of habitats from arid areas to wet forests. The distributions of the two species do not overlap. The species of this genus breed after rain in still, permanent or temporary water bodies. They are similar to Limnodynastes in both call and the form of the egg mass.

Ornate Burrowing Frog, Opisthodon ornatus
Spencer’s Burrowing Frog, Opisthodon spenceri

Mountain frogs

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Limnodynastinae Genus: Philoria

Philoria is a genus of frogs that are native to south-eastern Australia. They are a mountain species and occur in northern New South Wales, southern Queensland and eastern Victoria. They are small to medium sized frogs that live in water saturated sies, such as sphagnum bogs and rocky slopes. Eggs are laid in hollowed out nests in mud or sphagnum, and tadpoles stay in the nest until metamorphosis is complete. The Baw Baw Frog (Philoria frosti) is classified by some as its own genus, Philoria, while the other five species are classified as Kyarranus. There are several differences between P. frosti and the other 5 species including; size (P. frosti is larger), osteological features (practically of the pelvis) and the presence of a large parotoid gland.

Baw Baw Frog, Philoria frosti
Mountain Frog, Philoria kundagungan
Loveridge's Frog, Philoria loveridgei
Phloria pughii
Philoria richmondensis
Sphagnum Frog, Philoria sphagnicolus

Sandhill Frog

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Myobatrachinae Genus: Arenophryne

Sandhill Frog, Arenophryne rotunda

Pouched Frog

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Myobatrachinae Genus: Assa

Pouched Frog, Assa darlingtoni

Australian froglets

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Myobatrachinae Genus: Crinia

Crinia consists of small frogs that are all very similar in appearance. Almost all of the species are polymorphic, meaning that there is several different variations of colour and skin patterning that occur within the one population. From the 1950s to the 1970s this genus underwent major taxonomic reconstruction. Several species thought to be originally be Crinia signifera were classified as other Crinia species, two species were placed in their own genus, Assa and Paracrinia, and one species of Crinia was placed in Geocrinia and another in Taudactylus. Crinia nimbus (once Bryobatrachus nimbis) is very different both in behaviour and in appearance to other Crinia and is likely to be placed back into the monotypic genus Bryobatrachus.

Bilingual Froglet, Crinia bilingua
Sparrow Froglet, Crinia deserticola
Tschudi's Froglet, Crinia georgiana
Glauert’s Froglet, Crinia glauerti
Sign-bearing Froglet, Crinia insignifera
Moss Froglet, Crinia nimbus
Eastern Sign-bearing Froglet, Crinia parinsignifera
False Western Froglet, Crinia pseudinsignifera
Remote Froglet, Crinia remota
Streambank Froglet, Crinia riparia
Common Eastern Froglet, Crinia signifera
Sloane’s Froglet, Crinia sloanei
Small Western Froglet, Crinia subinsignifera
Tasmanian Froglet, Crinia tasmaniensis
Wallum Froglet, Crinia tinnula

Ground froglets

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Myobatrachinae Genus: Geocrinia

Geocrinia, originally referred to as Crinia, is a genus endemic to Australia. They are all small frogs with five of the seven species occurring in Western Australia and two in south-eastern Australia. The major difference between Geocrinia and Crinia is their reproductive natures, Geocrinia lay their eggs out of water. Some of the Geocrinia species have direct metamorphosis, this means that there is no free swimming tadpole stage and that development occurs entirely inside the egg capsule. Others initially develop inside the egg and then hatch when sufficient rain falls for continued development outside of the egg.

White-bellied Frog, Geocrinia alba
Smooth Frog, Geocrinia laevis
Lea’s Frog, Geocrinia leai
Walpole’s Frog, Geocrinia lutea
Karri Frog, Geocrinia rosea
Eastern Smooth Frog, Geocrinia victoriana
Orange-bellied Frog, Geocrinia vitellina

Nicholl's Toadlet

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Myobatrachinae Genus: Metacrinia

Nicholl's Toadlet, Metacrinia nichollsi

Turtle Frog

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Myobatrachinae Genus: Myobatrachus

Turtle Frog, Myobatrachus gouldii

Haswell's Froglet

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Myobatrachinae Genus: Paracrinia

Haswell's Froglet, Paracrinia haswelli

Toadlets or Brood frogs

Family: Myobatrachidae Sub-family: Myobatrachinae Genus: Pseudophryne

All species in Pseudophryne are small, ground-dwelling frogs endemic to Australia. Ten of the thirteen species live in south-eastern Australia and the other three inhabit Western Australia. An unusual trait of this species is its ability to lay eggs on land. The eggs are deposited on moist soil and swell after being laid. The tadpoles develop inside the egg and once sufficient rain has flooded the nest site they will hatch out. Some species of Pseudophryne known to be poisonous.