Martin's Toadlet - profile

Indicative distribution

Loading map...

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: Uperoleia martini

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Gazetted date: 09 Aug 2024

Profile last updated: 11 Jul 2025

Description

Martin’s Toadlet (Uperoleia martini) is a terrestrial frog from the family Myobatrachidae. It is a small, stout frog usually reaching up to 35 mm in total length. It is light-grey brown to dark grey with darker patches and has many yellow or red-tipped tubercles (raised nodules), which sometimes form a row along its back. It has distinctive, raised parotoid glands on the shoulders. It has yellow or red-brown patches around the top of the forearms, whilst the groin and back of the thighs are yellow. The belly is dark brown and covered in white or bluish-grey speckles. The tadpoles are nearly black and reach about 40mm. Males call to attract mates during spring and summer and the call consists of a single, repeated drawn out note.

Distribution

Martin’s toadlet has a restricted distribution. It is mainly confined to the Gippsland coast in Victoria and is known to occur just across the Victoria/NSW border into Nadgee Nature Reserve, NSW. There is little known about the species’ current distribution in far southeast NSW.

Habitat and ecology

Occurs mainly in medium-sized permanent or semi-permanent swamps and ponds surrounded by woodland or coastal heath.
Has also been found around dams, flooded grassland areas and in drainage lines.
Calling activity begins in early to mid-spring. Males call from the base of emergent vegetation and leaf litter around the edge of waterbodies.
Breeding events typically occur during or after significant rain when the ground is saturated.
Females lay eggs one at a time and attach them to submerged vegetation. Clutch size is currently unknown.
Tadpoles take approximately eight days to hatch and live at the bottom of water bodies where they feed on algae and detritus. They complete metamorphosis in late summer to autumn.
Little is known about the behaviour of Martin’s toadlet. As a terrestrial toadlet, they likely burrow underground during unfavourable climatic conditions such as prolonged dry periods.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

South East Corner

Threats

Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation due to the clearing of native vegetation. The species is rare or absent in cleared habitats.
Changes in rainfall patterns and increased frequency of drought may alter the suitability of breeding and shelter habitat.
Potential for the species to be susceptible to the amphibian chytrid fungus.
High frequency fire resulting in the destruction of habitat and the survival of populations.
Feral deer and pigs degrading habitat and reducing water quality.
Potential for predation on eggs and tadpoles by mosquitofish.
Lack of knowledge on the species abundance and distribution in south east NSW.
Lack of knowledge on species ecology.

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

Retain and protect habitat and buffers around habitat, particularly vegetation around suitable waterbodies and wetlands.
Monitor and control feral deer and pigs within and surrounding Martin’s toadlet breeding sites.
Monitor and investigate control methods for mosquitofish at Martin’s toadlet breeding sites.
Undertake targeted surveys in NSW range to determine the species current distribution in NSW. Identify and map key sites and identify key threats.
Establish a monitoring program to detect changes in population size over time and to understand the impact of different threats on populations.
Monitor the recovery of populations post fire.