Stuttering 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: Mixophyes balbus

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Gazetted date: 13 Dec 2002

Profile last updated: 14 Oct 2024

Description

The Stuttering Frog is relatively large and muscular, growing to about 8 cm in length. It has large, black eyes and vertical pupils, webbed feet, barred hind legs and a black line from the snout, through the eye and above the ‘ear’. The body colour is brown to olive-green and may be broken into irregular blotches. The underside is creamy-white. The adult has a pale-blue crescent across the upper half of the eye; this, and the call - a stuttering ‘ugh’ or ‘op', distinguishes the species from other barred frogs. The tadpole is dark brown to black and grows to 6.5 cm in length.

Distribution

Stuttering Frogs occur along the east coast of Australia from southern Queensland to north-eastern Victoria. Considered to have disappeared from Victoria and to have undergone considerable range contraction in NSW, particularly in south-east NSW. It is the only Mixophyes species that occurs in south-east NSW and in recent surveys it has only been recorded at three locations south of Sydney. The Dorrigo region, in north-east NSW, appears to be a stronghold for this species.

Habitat and ecology

Found in rainforest and wet, tall open forest in the foothills and escarpment on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range.
Outside the breeding season adults live in deep leaf litter and thick understorey vegetation on the forest floor.
Feed on insects and smaller frogs.
Breed in streams during summer after heavy rain.
Eggs are laid on rock shelves or shallow riffles in small, flowing streams.
As the tadpoles grow they move to deep permanent pools and take approximately 12 months to metamorphose.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Modification and loss of habitat.
Disease - chytrid fungus.
Changes to natural water flows and water quality.
Predation of eggs and tadpoles by introduced fish.
Damage to habitat and impacts on water quality from forestry activities.
Damage (vegetation removal, disturbance, turbidity) to habitat by domestic stock, feral cattle and pigs.
Poor knowledge of the species' distribution, taxonomy and history of local extinction.

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

Prevent the introduction and reduce populations of non-native fish in streams where the species occurs.
Minimise new development or clearing in catchments where the species occurs.
Retain native vegetation , including groundcover and leaf litter, up to 300 m from creeks and streams where the species occurs.
Maintain natural stream channel morphology and flows.
Protect streams from pollution.
Adopt the DEC frog hygiene protocol to prevent the spread of chytrid fungus in amphibian habitat.

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 (2002) Stuttering 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

New England Tablelands	Armidale Plateau	Known	east of Chandler River
New England Tablelands	Ebor Basalts	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Nightcap	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Northeast Forest Lands	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Walcha Plateau	Known	East of Yarrowitch River
New England Tablelands	Wongwibinda Plateau	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Barrington	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Carrai Plateau	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Cataract	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Chaelundi	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Comboyne Plateau	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Dalmorton	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Guy Fawkes	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Gorges	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Mummel Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Rocky River Gorge	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Tomalla	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Upper Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Washpool	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Capertee Valley	Known	None
Other State	Jervis Bay Territory	Predicted	None
South East Corner	Bateman	Predicted	None
South East Corner	East Gippsland Lowlands	Known	None
South East Corner	South East Coastal Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bathurst	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bungonia	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Capertee Uplands	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Kanangra	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Kybeyan-Gourock	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Oberon	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Burragorang	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Ettrema	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Illawarra	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Jervis	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Moss Vale	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Sydney Cataract	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Wollemi	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Yengo	Predicted	None

Sounds

Images

Stuttering Barrred Frog Image 1 of 3.
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