Baw Baw Frog

Taxobox | name = Baw Baw Frog
status = CR | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = down
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Amphibia
ordo = Anura
familia = Myobatrachidae
genus = "Philoria"
species = "P. frosti"
binomial = "Philoria frosti"
binomial_authority = Spencer, 1901
range_

range_map_caption = Range of the Baw Baw Frog.

The Baw Baw frog ("Philoria frosti") is a critically endangered species of Australian frog as categorised on the IUCN redlist and listed under the Fauna and Flora Guarantee Act (1986).

Description

Adult length is between 42 to 55 mm. Adults are dark brown and often have distinctively coloured bellies. These frogs have a prominent parotoid gland behind each eye. Their toes are unwebbed. At hatching, the tadpoles are creamy white and unpigmented, acquiring some colouration and eye pigmentation as they mature. Tadpoles have large yolk sacs and residual mouths, and do not feed until metamorphosis. Metamorphlings have different colouration to the adults.

Habitat

Baw Baw frogs live in a restricted range on the Baw Baw Plateau in eastern Victoria and have more recently been discovered in the subalpine moist eucalypt forests around the plateau. The breeding habitat appears to have contracted to the moister and less rocky western and central areas of the plateau.

Breeding

The female frog lays her eggs in naturally occurring cavities in and around the soil, vegetation, logs or rocks. According to Hollis, the tadpoles generally remain at their hatching site but may move short distances in shallow water, while remaining under cover of vegetation, or may be washed into ponds.

Declining population

Population estimates have reduced from 10,000-15,000 breeding males in 1983 to around 750, or according to Frogs Victoria less than 250 individuals. The cause of this reduction is unknown, but the usual suspects of predatation by feral animals, habitat degradation, chytrid fungus and ozone layer depletion may each have contributed. The frog's habitat is subject to woodchipping and Hollis cites Malone (1985) as having found significantly higher mortality rates in eggs and tadpoles in disturbed habitats in comparison with those in undisturbed surroundings.

References

* Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is critically endangered
* Tyler, M. The Action Plan for Australian Frogs "Wildlife Australia", Cth. Department of the Envoronment and Heritage, April 1997
* Malone, B.S. (1985a). "Status, distribution and ecology of the Baw Baw Frog (Philoria frosti)". Arthur Rylah Institute Technical Report No. 36. Arthur Rylah Institute, Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, Victoria, cited in Hollis, G.J. "Baw Baw Frog (Philoria frosti) Recovery Plan 1997-2001" Department of Natural Resources and Environment, October 1997.

External links

* [http://frogs.org.au/frogs/fov.php?frog_id=27 Frogs of Victoria field guide with description, images and sound recording]
* [http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/amphib_query?where-genus=Philoria&where-species=frosti Amphibiaweb]
* [http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/baw-baw-frog/introduction.html#11 Excellent, detailed description of species and conservation issues by Greg Hollis, Cth Department of the Environment and Heritage, October 1997]