Northern 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 pengilleyi

Conservation status in NSW: Critically Endangered

Commonwealth status: Critically Endangered

Gazetted date: 17 Dec 2010

Profile last updated: 20 Jun 2019

Description

The Northern Corroboree Frog has bright yellow, yellowish-green or lime-green 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 Northern Corroboree Frog occurs in forests, sub-alpine woodlands and tall heath in the Brindabella Ranges from Mt Bimberi to north of Mt Coree, and the Fiery Range from the Snowy Mountains Highway to Wee Jasper. Populations also occur in the pine plantations near Tumut. The distribution is within National Park, State Forest and other public land.

Habitat and ecology

Summer breeding habitat is pools and seepages in sphagnum bogs, wet heath, wet tussock grasslands and herbfields in low-lying depressions.
Feed primarily on small black ants and other invertebrates.
Males move into the breeding sites in summer and call fro late January to early March 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, woodland and forest 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

Damage to breeding sites by feral pigs and horses.
Disease - infection by the amphibian chytrid fungus, which causes the disease chytridiomycosis.
Climate change causing early pool drying and resulting in changes to breeding habitat (loss of pools).
Invasion of breeding sites by weeds, particularly blackberry.
Damage to breeding sites during forestry operations.
Potential for too frequent or intense fires to degrade key habitat features.
Damage to breeding sites by feral deer.

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

Undertake off-site rearing of tadpoles and frogs to increase survivorship and provide stock for re-introductions.
Protect breeding sites from damage by pigs and horses.
Protect breeding habitat from damage during forestry operations.
Control weeds in and adjacent to breeding sites.

Information sources

ACT Government (1997) Northern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne pengilleyi): a vulnerable species. Action Plan No.6. Environment ACT.
Barker J., Grigg G. and Tyler M.J. (1995) A Field Guide to Australian frogs. (Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney)
NSW Scientific Committee (1996) Northern corroboree frog - Vulnerable 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

Australian Alps	Snowy Mountains	Known	Above 700 m altitude
Other State	ACT	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bondo	Known	Above 700 m altitude

Images

Northern Corroboree Frog, Dave Hunter Image 1 of 2.
View slideshow.

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