Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Australia

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

Southwest arid zone of Western Australia. Most common along the wheatbelt and adjacent gold fields from the Murchison River south to Tambellup and east to Jerramungup and Frank Hann National Park and Lort River. The extent of occurrence of the species is approximately 157600 km2. Eastern side of Tarrah Forest, Wandoo Forest, Salmonsum Woodlands.

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Adults are active on the surface during summer and autumn nights. Calling begins with winter rains in April or May. Terrestrial egg deposition in burrows in a foam nest; aquatic tadpole. Between 250 – 700 eggs are laid and hatch 10 days to 4 weeks later. Tadpoles have been found in ponds of milky and clear water. Burrows in the banks or under stones on the bed of sandy shallow, ephemeral water courses in swamps or at the vertical edges of clay pans.

Trends and Threats
Extent of occurrence > 20,000km2 . Area of occupancy equals extent of occurrence. Not fragmented, large number of small and large populations. Found on east side of Tarrah Forest and throughout Wuemben of Western Australia. Numerous records from CALM salinity surveys from pit traps and hearing calling males. Detailed surveys central Wuemben by R.A. Davis.

Threats
May have been affected by vegetation clearing and resultant dry land salinity, but is still widespread.

Conservation Measures
Protected by W.A. Legislation preventing collection.

Comments
Based partly on unpublished data from R.A. Davis, Ph.D. student. Department of Zoology, University of Western Australia.

References

Barker, J., Grigg, G. C., and Tyler, M. J. (1995). A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty and Sons, New South Wales.

CALM Salinity Action Plan Survey frog collections, which will be deposited in Western Australia Museum Collection.

Tyler, M.J., Smith, L.A., and Johnstone, R.E. (1994). Frogs of Western Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2008 Heleioporus albopunctatus: Western Spotted Frog <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/3486> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Oct 2, 2023.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2023. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 2 Oct 2023.

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