White-bellied Frog

Geocrinia alba

A small short-bodied frog with short muscular legs. The undersurface is white with occasionally a pale yellow wash. The upper surface is light brown or grey with dark spots that are sometimes aligned to form a stripe from the eye to the rump as well as a mid-lateral line from the eye along the flank and a bar across the eyes. Maximum size is 2.4 cm.

Breeding

Development is entirely terrestrial with no need for free standing water. Males call from small depressions under dense vegetation.

Call

The call is a distinctive series of 11-18 pulses repeated almost too rapidly to be distinguished.

Eggs

Eggs are laid in damp depressions under dense vegetation and may be "guarded" by males.

Tadpoles

No free-living tadpole stage; tadpoles develop within the nest.

Other Notes

The only species of frog in WA listed as Critically Endangered due to habitat loss and ongoing degradation of existing habitats.