Booroolong Frog - 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: Litoria booroolongensis

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Gazetted date: 13 Mar 1998

Profile last updated: 01 Dec 2017

Description

The Booroolong Frog is a medium sized tree frog, with adults growing to about 5 cm. Their body-colour may be grey, olive or brown with indistinct black markings. The abdomen is white. The skin usually has a slightly warty appearance. The fingers and toes have well developed discs, and the toes are strongly webbed. The call is a soft, purring ‘craww craww craww’.

Distribution

The Booroolong Frog is restricted to NSW and north-eastern Victoria, predominantly along the western-flowing streams of the Great Dividing Range. It has disappeared from much of the Northern Tablelands, however several populations have recently been recorded in the Namoi catchment. The species is rare throughout most of the remainder of its range.

Habitat and ecology

Live along permanent streams with some fringing vegetation cover such as ferns, sedges or grasses.
Adults occur on or near cobble banks and other rock structures within stream margins.
Shelter under rocks or amongst vegetation near the ground on the stream edge.
Sometimes bask in the sun on exposed rocks near flowing water during summer.
Breeding occurs in spring and early summer and tadpoles metamorphose in late summer to early autumn.
Eggs are laid in submerged rock crevices and tadpoles grow in slow-flowing connected or isolated pools.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Modification of steam channels and loss of cobble banks.
Loss of native streamside vegetation.
Damage to stream margins by stock.
Predation of eggs and tadpoles by introduced fish.
Weed invasion of streamside habitats, particularly by willows.
Disease - chytrid fungus.
Changes to water quality through sedimentation and use of herbicides or pesticides near streams.
Stream drying caused by severe drought or water extraction/impoundment.
Large amounts of sedimentation due to wild horse activity in the National Park, causing filling of breeding crevices.
High density of fossicking and in particular the illegal use of powered sluices and deliberate damming of stretches to facilitate use.
Feral pig activities damage habitat and erode stream margins.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Retain riparian native vegetation.
Maintain natural stream channel morphology.
Reduce the stocking of introduced fish in streams where the species occurs.
Minimise the use of herbicides and pesticides adjacent to streams.
Protect streams and streamside vegetation from disturbance by stock.
Control weeds, particularly willows, and rehabilitate streamside habitats.

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)
NSW Scientific Committee (1998) Booroolong Frog - Endangered species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.
Robinson, M. (1993) A Field Guide to the Frogs of Australia. Reed Books, Sydney.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Nandewar	Kaputar	Known	None
Nandewar	Peel	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Eastern Nandewars	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Ebor Basalts	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Glenn Innes-Guyra Basalts	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Moredun Volcanics	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Nightcap	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Severn River Volcanics	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Walcha Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Wongwibinda Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Yarrowyck-Kentucky Downs	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Barrington	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Carrai Plateau	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Chaelundi	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Comboyne Plateau	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Dalmorton	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Guy Fawkes	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Mummel Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Tomalla	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Upper Manning	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Capertee Valley	Predicted	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Inland Slopes	Known	None
Other State	VIC	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bathurst	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bondo	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bungonia	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Capertee Uplands	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Crookwell	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Hill End	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Kanangra	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Murrumbateman	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Oberon	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Orange	Predicted	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Sandstones	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Burragorang	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Wollemi	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Yengo	Predicted	None

Sounds

Images

Booroolong Frog, Dave Hunter Image 1 of 5.
View slideshow.

Related information

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