Australia is a dream destination for wildlife and amphibian enthusiasts. With such a diverse assortment of frog species in the area, it can become challenging to discern one from another.
Perth is inhabited by the Slender Tree Frog, Motorbike Frog, Quacking Frog, Orange-Bellied Frog, Wheatbelt Frog, White-Footed Trilling Frog, Western Spotted Frog, Moaning Frog, Sand Frog, Turtle Frog, Clicking Froglet, Squelching Froglet, Western Banjo Frog, Sunset Frog, and Roseate Frog.
These frogs may be situated on the very edges of the region or in specific parts of the region. Join us as we discuss which frog species can be found in Perth, where to find them, and how to distinguish certain frogs from others.
Frog Species | Perth Location | Habitat |
Slender Tree Frog | Swan Coastal Plain Darling Ranges Southwest Forests North Coast | Arboreal |
Motorbike Frog | Swan Coastal Plain Darling Ranges Southwest Forests North Coast | Arboreal |
Quacking Frog | Swan Coastal Plain Southwest Forests North Coast Wheat Belt Region | Arboreal |
Orange-Bellied Frog | Southwest Forests | Terrestrial |
Wheatbelt Frog | Wheat Belt Region | Terrestrial |
White-Footed Trilling Frog | Wheat Belt Region | Aquatic |
Western Spotted Frog | Wheat Belt Region | Terrestrial |
Moaning Frog | Swan Coastal Plain Darling Ranges Southwest Forests North Coast | Terrestrial |
Sand Frog | Darling Ranges North Coast | Terrestrial |
Turtle Frog | Swan Coastal Plain Darling Ranges North Coast Wheat Belt Region | Terrestrial |
Clicking Froglet | Swan Coastal Plain Darling Ranges Southwest Forests North Coast Wheat Belt Region | Terrestrial |
Squelching Froglet | Swan Coastal Plain | Aquatic |
Western Banjo Frog | Swan Coastal Plain Darling Ranges Southwest Forests North Coast Wheat Belt Region | Aquatic |
Sunset Frog | Southwest Forests | Aquatic |
Roseate Frog | Southwest Forests | Terrestrial |
1. Slender Tree Frog
Slender Tree Frogs (Litoria adelaidensis) range between pale fawn and bright green, topped with a dark stripe along their sides. Their legs are mottled with bright yellow markings or red spots. They grow to around 1.7 inches and have webbed toes. These frogs inhabit permanent and seasonal aquatic spaces, including dams, wetlands, and streams.
2. Motorbike Frog
Motorbike Frogs (Litoria moorei) are powerfully built with long hind legs. They are green with gold mottling in warm temperatures and turn brown in colder conditions. They have pale to light brown undersides and partially webbed toes, and they grow to around 2.9 inches. These frogs inhabit spaces near lakes, farm dams, garden ponds, swamps, and vegetated watercourses.
3. Quacking Frog
Quacking Frogs (Crinia georgiana) have smooth or ridged areas of tan, dark brown, and gray. They have a red patch near the groin and flaunt yellow, red, or gold upper eyelids. These frogs are small to medium, growing to around 1.5 inches, and they generally inhabit low-lying moist areas within forests.
4. Orange-Bellied Frog
Orange-Bellied Frogs (Geocrinia vittelina) are light brown or gray with dark spots, occasionally aligned into two parallel rows. They have muscular bodies with bright orange or yellow undersides. These frogs grow to around one inch and prefer living in dense swamp vegetation but may also live near streams and steeps.
5. Wheatbelt Frog
Wheatbelt Frogs (Neobatrachus kunapalari) have protruding eyes with vertical pupils. Their markings consist of pale straw or dark khaki blotches with indistinct margins. These frogs grow to around 2.3 inches and have moderately to extensively webbed toes. They inhabit clay soil formed after summer and autumn thunderstorms.
6. White-Footed Trilling Frog
White-Footed Trilling Frogs (Neobatrachus albipes) are brown with dark markings and a pale ‘V’ shape or spot between the eyes. Their ventral surface and limbs are creamy-white. These frogs are medium-sized with short limbs and moderately webbed toes. They usually inhabit temporary water bodies within agricultural areas.
7. Western Spotted Frog
Western Spotted Frogs (Heleioporus albopunctatus) have brown skin topped with white or pale yellow spots. They have powerful hind legs, large eyes, and rounded bodies. These frogs are fairly large, growing to around 4 inches. They inhabit the areas surrounding temporary watercourses and swamps.
8. Moaning Frog
Moaning Frogs (Heleioporus eyrei) have powerful bodies and short limbs with dark brown or gray skin. They have mottled patterns and yellow limb flanks. They grow to 2.5 inches and inhabit swampy areas along flowing water bodies. However, they may also be found foraging bushlands throughout the year.
9. Sand Frog
Sand Frogs (Heleioporus psammophilus) are dark brown or gray with pale mottling. They have short limbs and usually have pale bumps along their lower flanks. These frogs grow to around 2.3 inches, and males flaunt nuptial spines. They typically inhabit areas featuring white sands or clay soil.
10. Turtle Frog
Turtle Frogs (Myobatrachus gouldii) have bodies resembling turtles without their shells. They have small heads, tiny eyes, and short, muscular limbs. Their colors range between pink to light or dark brown, and they grow to around 2 inches. These frogs inhabit sandy soils and can survive without free-standing water.
11. Clicking Froglet
Clicking Froglets (Crinia glauerti), otherwise known as Rattling Froglets, have smooth or ridged backs, topped with brown, black, and gray markings. Females have blotched undersides, while males have uniformly colored undersides and dark throats. These tiny frogs inhabit low-lying moist areas in forests.
12. Squelching Froglet
Squelching Froglets (Crinia insignifera) have dark and light brown skin topped with marbled gray or white stripes and blotches (CTNF). Males have a distinguishing dark edging around their lower jaws. These frogs grow to an inch, and they may have smooth, ridged, or bumpy skin. They inhabit swamps and are often found near dams or moist roadside verges.
13. Western Banjo Frog
Western Banjo Frogs (Limnodynastes dorsalis) are dark green or gray with irregular brown blotches. They have a thin pale line running along their backs and have bright red or orange patches on the groin. They have granular ridges at the corner of the mouth and grow to around 3 inches. These frogs inhabit aquatic spaces such as wetlands, streams, and swamps.
14. Sunset Frog
Sunset Frogs (Spicospina flammocaerulea) have dark skin with raised glands along their backs. They have bright orange undersides, topped with light grey-blue mottling. These frogs grow to 1.4 inches and have bright orange hands and feet. They inhabit peat swamps and dense moss beds.
15. Roseate Frog
Roseate Frogs (Geocrinia rosea) have gray or brown skin with a darker mid-patch. Their undersides can be pink, red, or fawn, and males have dark throats. These frogs grow to one inch and have relatively short legs. They inhabit terrestrial spaces, often living under vegetation and rotten logs.
More About Frogs in Australia
Perth is home to numerous frog species, all of which flaunt unique traits. Many of these frogs are abundant in Perth, making them easy to spot. But, some are uncommon and could be tricky to find in the wild.
Learn more about frogs in Australia on our blog:
- 10 Types of Frogs Can You Find in Australia
- Australian Green Tree Frog
- Are Cane Toads Still a Problem?
- Are Cane Toads Poisonous?
Sources
Western Australian Museum, Frog Watch