Indicative distribution
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.
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click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Pseudophryne australis
Gazetted date:
19 Jul 2002
Profile last updated:
22 Mar 2024
Description
The Red-crowned Toadlet is an unmistakable small frog, usually measuring less than 30 mm long. It is dark brown to black, with distinctive reddish-orange patches, one between the eyes and one along the rump. It also has a white patch at the base of each arm. The belly is marbled black and white. The tadpoles are black and reach about 25 mm. The short, grating and "squelchy" call can be heard all year round.
Distribution
The Red-crowned Toadlet has a restricted distribution. It is confined to the Sydney Basin, from Pokolbin in the north, the Nowra area to the south, and west to Mt Victoria in the Blue Mountains.
Habitat and ecology
- Occurs in open forests, mostly on Hawkesbury and Narrabeen Sandstones.
- Inhabits periodically wet drainage lines below sandstone ridges that often have shale lenses or cappings.
- Shelters under rocks and amongst masses of dense vegetation or thick piles of leaf litter.
- Breeding congregations occur in dense vegetation and debris beside ephemeral creeks and gutters. Red-crowned Toadlets have not been recorded breeding in waters that are even mildly polluted or with a pH outside the range 5.5 to 6.5.
- Eggs are laid in moist leaf litter, from where they are washed by heavy rain; a large proportion of the development of the tadpoles takes place in the egg.
- Disperses outside the breeding period, when they are found under rocks and logs on sandstone ridges and forage amongst leaf-litter.
- Red-crowned Toadlets are quite a localised species that appear to be largely restricted to the immediate vicinity of suitable breeding habitat. Red-crowned Toadlets are usually found as small colonies scattered along ridges coinciding with the positions of suitable refuges near breeding sites. Due to this tendency for discrete populations to concentrate at particular sites, a relatively small localised disturbance may have a significant impact on a local population if it occurs on a favoured breeding or refuge site.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Clearing of habitat, particularly along ridges.
- Reduction in water quality flowing from ridges, particularly near urban areas.
- High frequency fire, resulting in changing vegetation structure and composition.
- Collection of bush rock.
- Disease (chytrid fungus).
- Climate change.
- Disturbance to breeding habitat by recreational activity (e.g. bikes, 4WD).
- Forest disturbance associated with forestry operations.
- Intense wild fire resulting in destruction of habitat.
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
- Apply mosaic pattern hazard reduction techniques.
- Retain and protect habitat and buffers around habitat, particularly vegetation on upper slopes and ridges.
- Protect water quality and maintain natural water flows in drainage lines below developed ridges.
- Do not remove sandstone rock from bushland in escarpment areas.
Information sources
- Barker J., Grigg G. and Tyler M.J. (1995) A Field Guide to Australian frogs. (Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney)
- Cogger, H.G. (2000) Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. 6th Edition. (Reed New Holland, Sydney)
- Ehmann, H. (ed.) (1997) Threatened Frogs of NSW: Habitat, status and conservation. Frog and Tadpole Study.
- NSW Scientific Committee (2002) Red-crowned toadlet - Vulnerable species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.