IMAGE COURTESY OF JODI ROWLEY
Limnodynastes tasmaniensis
Spotted marsh frogs are a small frog species, growing to about 50mm in length. It can easily be identified by its cream brown back, with dark olive green patches, white belly and its iris is golden flecked.
These ground dwelling frogs feed on crickets, insects and spiders, they don't particularly feed on flying insects as they lack the capabilities to jump high into the air.
Its calls can be heard from July to May, however it is most likely heard from September to December when it is peak breeding season and there is an abundance of food. The importance of ponds to this species is that this is where their eggs are laid. The female can lay up to 1500 eggs in a floating foam nest.
Although its Latin name means 'from Tasmania' the natural habitat and range of these frogs is from Tasmania all the way to Townsville. It lives in waterways, roadside ditches and dams mostly, but can survive much harsher, less favourable conditions inland. This species is very common throughout gardens of Victoria and chances are it has visited or will move in during the next rain event.
Banjo frogs are considered as Least Concern on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation) list as of 2004. However, it is due for an update. This does not mean frogs that share the same habitat are also of Least Concern.
Cutajar. T. P., Portway, C. D., Gillard, G. L., and Rowley, J. J. L. (2022) Australian Frog Atlas: Fine-scale species distribution maps informed by the FrogID dataset. Technical Reports of the Australian Museum Online. 36: 1-48. https://doi.org/10.3853/j.1835-4211.36.2022.1789
How can I encourage frogs to my backyard?
To improve your chances of frogs living and breeding in your backyard, choose appropriate pond fish that will not eat tadpoles or eggs. There are not many safe species of fish but the Murray River Rainbow is a safe native species that we love! Fish such as goldfish and other large natives will eat frogs and tadpoles.
Improve your chances of attracting and keeping happy frogs in your garden by having plenty of vegetation in and around the pond. Visit our Aquatic plant profiles on our Learning Hub to help decide which plants are best for your pond. Logs, hollows and caves will also encourage frogs to move in too.
Do not spray weeds with harmful weed killers, this will end up in your pond and in local waterways, which will discourage frogs from living in your area. The health of your drains is the health of your waterways. Remove weeds regularly by hand to retain the health of your pond.
Already have frogs in your area?
Please help the Australian Museum by downloading their FrogID app, where you can record frog calls and submit these and your location through the app! You can download this from the Apple Store or the Google Play Store.
