101: Frog Spotting

Perth is afloat of friends frogs. Some tin beryllium difficult to find unless you cognize wherever and erstwhile to look – and, much importantly, listen!

The wetter months bring retired immoderate of our astir absorbing amphibians, truthful we’ve put together this frog-spotting guideline connected nan champion ones to find. 

BANJO FROG

Banjo frogs are very progressive astir July and August. 

Most commonly, banjo frogs are recovered adjacent swamps and wetlands, but they are awesome burrowers and often recovered immoderate region from water.

They are usually a grey-brown colour pinch splotches of darker tegument and a unique ray stripe down nan mediate of their back.

Caption: A banjo frog
Credit: Stephen Mahony/WA Museum

This frog makes a large ‘BONK’ noise, and erstwhile a large group of males (a chorus) are each calling, it sounds for illustration a bunch of bad banjo players!

Try your luck astatine Bold Park aliases Herdsman Lake, but besides support your oculus retired astatine section wetlands aliases suburban gardens crossed Perth.

QUACKING FROG

The champion clip to find nan quacking frog is during its breeding play from precocious June to August.

They are a mottled brownish aliases tan colour and turn to astir 4cm long. The males person an eye-catching reddish colour connected their thighs – you can’t miss it!

Calling antheral quacking frogs sound – surprise, astonishment – for illustration a duck quacking.

The easiest measurement to find a quacking frog is to telephone to them. They are very territorial, truthful if called to, they will often telephone back. 

Caption: Quacking frogs wrestling
Credit: Dr Bruno Buzatto (Image not for reproduction)

They often breed adjacent granite outcrops specified arsenic successful Lesmurdie Falls National Park aliases nan Darling Ranges. 

A small person to home, they tin beryllium recovered astatine municipality wetlands for illustration Piney Lakes aliases successful nan Maylands area.

SQUELCHING FROGLET

The squelching froglet is astir progressive during its breeding play from May to August.

Its splotchy acheronian grey and brownish colour helps it blend successful pinch mud and dense vegetation.

As nan connection ‘froglet’ would suggest, they’re mini frogs, increasing to astir 2.5cm. 

The squelching froglet is very easy to hear. They’re large and shape large choruses, truthful you tin often perceive them from rather a distance. 

Caption: Squelching froglet
Credit: Stephen Mahony/FrogID

Unsurprisingly, they make a rubbery, squelching sound erstwhile they call.

This frog is communal each complete nan Swan Coastal Plain and astir of nan large lakes successful Perth, including Herdsman, Piney, Parry and Bibra Lakes.

Don’t limit your hunt location because immoderate wetland is simply a bully spot to support an oculus (and ear) out.

MOANING FROG

Moaning frogs only telephone for a short play of clip successful precocious May and into June. 

They are round, stocky and astir 6cm long, pinch heavy legs, large eyes and a mottled brownish colour.

Caption: Moaning frog
Credit: Jodi Rowley/WA Museum

Like astir of nan different frogs successful this list, they’re named for their call. 

Listen retired astir municipality wetlands for a creepy debased moaning sound – it’s astir apt this frog.

They emotion burrowing and person a wont of rocking up unannounced successful astir suburban backyards. 

Now you person your guideline to frog calls – hop to it and spot really galore frogs you tin find!