Tusked Frog population in the Nandewar and New England Tableland Bioregions - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Adelotus brevis - endangered population

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered Population

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 15 Dec 2000

Profile last updated: 14 Oct 2024

Description

The tusked frog is a small, flattened frog up to 50 mm in snout-to-vent length, olive green to almost black above and black and white below, with orange-red patches in the groin and on the hind legs. Males have a large wide head, and the species is unusual amongst frogs in that males are normally larger than females. The call is a single “cluck” repeated slowly. Both sexes bear sharp tooth-like tusks in the lower jaw that fit into depressions within the upper jaw; these tusks are larger in males and may be used agonistically when defending breeding sites against rival males.

Distribution

The Tusked Frog is distributed along the eastern coast and adjacent ranges from central Queensland to southern NSW, extending inland to the New England Tableland (New England Bioregion) and North West Slopes (Nandewar Bioregion). Tusked Frogs have experienced large declines in in the New England and Nandewar Bioregions and are now very rare there, and the population in these regions has been listed as an Endangered Population under the Biodiversity and Conservation Act. The species remains more common in lower elevation coastal areas.

Habitat and ecology

Rainforests, wet forests and flooded grassland and pasture. They are usually found near creeks, ditches and ponds, and call while hidden amongst vegetation or debris.
The species breeds from spring through to summer, with a peak during late spring.
Eggs are deposited in nests under leaf litter or other cryptic sites such as old yabbie burrows near or in water.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Historical population decline from chytrid fungus, particularly of higher altitude, cooler tableland populations
Reduced water quality including eutrophication from agricultural fertiliser and pesticides
Destruction and disturbance of streamside and pond habitat by domestic or feral herbivores
Predation of eggs and tadpoles by introduced fish species such as the Plague Minnow and Trout.
Habitat loss and degradation from agricultural and urban development.
Altered hydrological regimes including irrigation, and diversion and impoundment of water affecting habitat, including water flow and retention
Small population size with no recent sightings indicating its numbers are likely reduced to a critical level if not already extinct.
Drought and stream drying affecting viable habitat, although potentially, climate change and increased temperatures may attenuate some impacts of chytrid fungus

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Support local Landcare groups.
Help prevent the spread of introduced fish.
Take care with the use of pesticides and other chemicals near wetlands, ponds and streams.
Fence streams and ponds to protect from grazing stock and encourage regeneration.
Protect native vegetation bordering streams and ponds from clearing or disturbance.
Clean footwear, equipment and tyres before and after visiting frog sites.
Only handle frogs when absolutely necessary, and at all times comply with hygiene protocols to prevent the spread of chytrid fungus.
Report any records to the DPE or NSW BioNet Atlas.

Information sources

Anstis, M. (2002) Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia: a guide with keys. (Reed New Holland, Frenchs Forest)
Anstis, M. (2013) Tadpoles and frogs of Australia. (New Holland, Sydney.)
Barker J., Grigg G. and Tyler M.J. (1995) A Field Guide to Australian frogs. (Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney)
Cogger. H.G. (2014) Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. 7th Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.)
Department of Environment and Climate Change (2009) Threatened Species Survey and Assessment Guidelines: Field Survey Methods for Fauna - Amphibians. (DECC, Sydney South)
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (2010) Northern Rivers Regional Biodiversity Management Plan.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2003) Threatened Species of the New England Tablelands and North West Slopes of NSW. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)
NSW Scientific Committee (2000) Tusked frog population, Nandewar and New England Tablelands bioregions - Endangered population determination - final.
Robinson, M. (1995) A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia: from Port Augusta to Fraser Island including Tasmania. (Reed Books, Chatswood)
Tyler, M.J. and Knight, F. (2011) Field Guide to the Frogs of Australia. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Canberra)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Nandewar	Inverell Basalts	Predicted	None
Nandewar	Kaputar	Predicted	None
Nandewar	Nandewar Northern Complex	Known	None
Nandewar	Peel	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Armidale Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Beardy River Hills	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Binghi Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Bundarra Downs	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Deepwater Downs	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Eastern Nandewars	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Ebor Basalts	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Glenn Innes-Guyra Basalts	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Moredun Volcanics	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Nightcap	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Northeast Forest Lands	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Round Mountain	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Severn River Volcanics	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Tenterfield Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Tingha Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Walcha Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Wongwibinda Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Yarrowyck-Kentucky Downs	Predicted	None

Images

Tusked Frog Image 1 of 3.
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