Water-holding Frog

Cyclorana platycephala

A large robust frog with a flattened appearance. The eyes are perched on top of a depressed head (where the species name comes from: platy = flat, cephalus = head), the mouth is large, limbs are short and there is extensive webbing between the toes. Colouration ranges from pale grey to dark olive brown to green. Males to 5 cm; females to 7 cm.

Breeding

Responds to cyclonic rains in summer and breeds in temporary water bodies.

Call

A long drawn-out 'maaaaw-w-w-w...'

Eggs

Females lay large masses containing up to 500 eggs.

Tadpoles

Large tadpoles (up to 8 cm) and sizes at metamorphosis (3.5 cm).

Other Notes

The placement of the eyes on top of the head and the extensive webbing between the toes is indicative of a highly aquatic lifestyle. It can form a "cacoon" by progressively shedding its skin in its burrow, and can then hibernate for months until rains come. The large body size and mouth suggests it feeds on other frogs.