Hooting Frog

Heleioporus barycragus

This is the largest member of the Heleioporus genus found in Western Australia attaining a maximum length of almost 9 cm. The body is chocolate brown with a scattering of yellow spots on the flanks (sometimes with a small black spine in the centre of these spots). Males have massive front arms and large black spines on the fingers in the breeding season.

Breeding

Males of this species excavate burrows in the banks of streams that become inundated after winter rains. Males call from within the burrow in autumn to attract females. If a female enters the burrow, the male will embrace her (amplexus) and she will deposit the eggs at the bottom of the burrow in damp soil. Rising water caused by winter rain eventually floods the burrows, allowing the newly developed tadpoles to wriggle free of the egg mass and swim in to the water body.

Call

A low pitched owl-like 'hoot' repeated frequently.

Eggs

The egg masses of this species are white and foamy. As many as 500 eggs may be laid in each mass.

Tadpoles

The body is dark brown to pale grey with a series of thin, light coloured lines on either side. They grow to 6 cm, with the tail twice as long as the body with low fins and a rounded tip. Development time is from eight to twelve weeks.

Other Notes

This large charasmatic species can still be encountered in the Perth Hills.