Nature conservation

Threatened species

Southern Corroboree 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: Pseudophryne corroboree
Conservation status in NSW: Critically Endangered
Commonwealth status: Critically Endangered
Gazetted date: 04 Dec 2009
Profile last updated: 07 Jun 2021

Description

The Southern Corroboree Frog has bright yellow longitudinal stripes alternating with black stripes on its back, and has black, yellow and white blotches underneath. Adults reach a length of 2.5 - 3 cm. The call is a short "squelch". The tadpoles are dark brown to black and begin to show the characteristic patterning at later stages as the legs develop.

Distribution

The Southern Corroboree Frog is limited to sphagnum bogs of the northern Snowy Mountains, in a strip from the Maragle Range in the north-west, through Mt Jagungal to Smiggin Holes in the south. Its range is entirely within Kosciuszko National Park.

Habitat and ecology

  • Summer breeding habitat is pools and seepages in sphagnum bogs, wet tussock grasslands and wet heath.
  • Feed primarily on small black ants and other invertebrates.
  • Males move into the breeding sites in summer and call during January and February from covered depressions or mossy chambers at the edges of pools.
  • Females visit calling males briefly, and lay 20 - 30 large eggs in a terrestrial nest.
  • Males leave the eggs in late summer or early autumn to return to the over-wintering habitat.
  • The embryos develop to an advanced stage within the egg and hatch following substantial autumn or winter rain.
  • Tadpoles overwinter in the pools, feed and grow slowly through spring as the water warms and metamorphose in early summer.
  • Outside the breeding season adults move away from the bogs into the surrounding heath and snowgum woodland to overwinter under litter, logs and dense groundcover.

Regional distribution and habitat

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


Threats

Recovery strategies

Activities to assist this species

Information sources

IBRA Bioregion IBRA Subregion Known or predicted Geographic restrictions region
Australian AlpsSnowy Mountains Known Above 1000 m altitude
South Eastern HighlandsMonaro Known Above 1000 m altitude