Go(ne) West Young Man

Whilst my first adventure west was not to “find a heart that’s golden” (for those of you familiar with Michael W. Smith’s 1980s song), I did have a great time as I found five new species to check off my bucket list! I was already in Toowoomba for my first time and had planned to meet up with Greg from the local environmental education centre to head out south of Dalby where we were hoping the recent rains had brought up the burrowing frogs from their slumber. We were not disappointed. After putting the new Sante Fe to the test through large areas of inundated dirt track and soft boggy material (and a quick recovery effort), we made our way to the first frog calls of the evening.

Ornate Burrowing Frog
Ornate Burrowing Frog (Platyplectrum ornatum) chilling along the track. Many beautiful patterns on these frogs.
Spotted Marshfrog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis)
Spotted Marshfrog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis)

From here on in are all new species for me.

Rough-collared Frog (Cyclorana verrucosa)
Rough-collared Frog (Cyclorana verrucosa)
Rough-collared Frog
Rough-collared Frogs (Cyclorana verrucosa) in amplexus
Greenstripe Frog (Cyclorana alboguttata). Some individuals are considerably more green.
Greenstripe Frog (Cyclorana alboguttata). Some individuals are considerably more green.
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Greenstripe Frog (Cyclorana alboguttata)
Superb Collared-frog (Cyclorana brevipes). Superb indeed.
Superb Collared-frog (Cyclorana brevipes). Superb indeed.
Meowing Frog AKA Common Spadefoot Toad (Neobatrachus sudelli ). Only species of Neobatrachus in eastern Australia.
Meowing Frog AKA Common Spadefoot Toad (Neobatrachus sudellae). A little cutie! Only species of Neobatrachus in eastern Australia.
Meowing Frog AKA Common Spadefoot Toad (Neobatrachus sudelli )
Meowing Frog AKA Common Spadefoot Toad (Neobatrachus sudellae)
Eastern Snapping-frog(Cyclorana novaehollandiae ). My first encounter with the species truly did live up to its name and nature!
Eastern Snapping-frog (Cyclorana novaehollandiae). My first encounter with this species truly did live up to its name and nature!

I am so grateful to Greg for his willingness in getting me out there and doing some off-the-cuff 4WDing! The opportunity out there at the moment is too good to miss so I endeavor to return for several more species which I did not see this time round.

2 comments

    1. Hey Donna, yeah it’s hard to tell at this stage of the meal but probably a smaller burrowing frog. We found two more of these frogs. Such a large amazing frog!

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