Great Barred Frog at Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve

Recently some local wildlife experts did a night-time spotlight at the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve. Among the animals they saw, they spotted this Great Barred Frog (Mixophyes fasciolatus) on the nature trail.  This very large, long-legged frog is usually found in upland or lowland rainforest's near running streams, so it was a surprise to see it at the Rogers Reserve as there isn't a water source within the reserve. During the day it digs down into the leaf litter and soil to conceal itself.  At night it emerges to hunt for invertebrates amongst leaf littler or stream edges.

Great Barred Frog (Mixophyes fasciolatus)at Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve, Highfields.

Females lick their large fertilised eggs into the leaf littler.  This species cannot tolerate forest clearing and is often found in protected habitats like national parks.  It is wonderful to see that is living successfully in the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve at Highfields.

Similar looking species to the Great Barred Frog, are the Giant Barred Frog (Mixophyes iteratus) which is classed as Endangered in QLD and NSW and the Fleay's Barred Frog (Mixophyes fleayi) Endangered Species in NSW and Qld also.

J.G.

(Information Source: Australian Frogs by Lynne Adcock & Ian Morris) and the Australian Government Biodiversity Species Profile & Threats Database 2014)