• Background
• Characteristics

(Photo: Steve Walker)

Defensive posture: If threatened, Bibron's Toadlet flip onto its back and plays dead. (Photo: Steve Walker)

Although the most abundant and widepread of its genus, Bibron's Toadlet (also known as the Brown Toadlet) is believed to have become less abundant in recent times. The Frog Census is a useful tool to find out where they are found in this State, and whether they are becoming less common in some areas over successive years. They are generally found singularly or in low numbers under rocks and logs and breed in grassy areas beside creeks. Mambray Creek in the Southern Flinders Ranges, for example, provides a perfect habitat for a healthy population of Bibron's Toadlet.

Bibron's Toadlet is brown to almost black above with a scattering of darker flecks and reddish spots. It may have a pale vertical mark on the tip of its snout and a yellow area around the region of the anus. The frog's belly is marbled with black and white. Its skin can be smooth or granular and is usually scattered with a few warts.

Bibron's Toadlet distribution map

Size: Males 22-30 mm; Females 25-32 mm.

Habitat: Found in damp areas with some cover such as logs and stones.

Breeding: Calling begins in February and continues until August. Eggs are deposited in damp leaf mould under logs and stones. Hatching occurs after sufficient rains flood the area. Tadpoles grow to about 30 mm and are dark brown with a mottled tail fin.

Advertisement call: short, grating, upwardly inflected 'ark'.