Striped Marshfrog (Limnodynastes peronii)

Limnodynastes peronii

Striped Marshfrog

Gallery

Distinctive dark lateral stripe shown from the eye to shoulder. A raised, cream glandular stripe runs below and parallel.

Dark-edged pale vertebral stripe running down the middle of back.

Male calling from amongst pond vegetation.

Distinctive floating foam mass with darkly pigmented eggs.

Threatened Status:
EPBC/NC/IUCN: Least Concern

Size:
Medium, <65mm

Quick ID features:
Grey-brown, beige or russet coloured above, smooth cream colour below, long legs and toes, no webbing or toe pads, dark-edged pale vertebral stripe runs down the middle of back, and a dark lateral stripe passes from the eye to shoulder.

Characteristics:
A grey-brown, beige or russet coloured frog above, often smooth but may have low ridges running down pack. Species has long legs and long toes. Finger disks and toe pads absent, and little or no webbing between fingers and toes. A dark-edged pale vertebral stripe runs down the middle of back, and a dark lateral stripe passes from the eye to shoulder. A raised, cream glandular stripe runs parallel. Limbs are darkly mottled, flecked or spotted. The belly is smooth and mostly white, however throat can be yellow or brown in breeding males.

Call:
Described as a 'tok' or 'pop', much like that of a tennis ball striking the racquet, or dripping tap. Heard calling any time of year, usually after rain. Males call from thick grass and sedges amongst water, and from beneath undercut banks, and crayfish burrows.

Breeding & Distribution:
A terrestrial species that breeds in a variety of habitats including backyard ponds. Often occurs in disturbed, urban, and peri-urban areas. Darkly pigmented eggs are laid in a floating foam nest. Widespread distribution.

Similar species:
Often mistaken for the Striped Rocketfrog (Litoria nasuta), Broad-palmed Rocketfrog (Litoria latopalmata), and Wallum Rocketfrog (Litoria freycineti), but distinguished from the latter by the the narrow cream vertebral stripe down middle of back.