Kroombit tinkerfrog
Kroombit tinkerfrog Photo: H. Hines
Common name: Kroombit tinkerfrog
Scientific name: Taudactylus pleione
Family: Myobatrachidae (Australian water frogs)
Conservation status: This species is listed as Endangered in Queensland (Nature Conservation Act 1992) and Vulnerable nationally (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999). It is ranaked as a high priority under the Department of Environment and Resource Management `Back on Track' species prioritisation framework.
Description
The Kroombit tinkerfrog is a small frog with a snout-vent length between 25 and 31mm. The frog is reddish brown to grey dorsally with darker brown flecks, spots and blotches. There is a prominent broad bar of approximately uniform width between the eyes, a roughly X-shaped blotch between the shoulders, broad lateral bands and a bar or blotch either side of the groin. A broad dark streak extends from the snout through the eye and ear. Limbs and fingers have conspicuous dark cross-bars and fingers are not webbed. The posterior surface of the thighs is dirty yellow, with brown bars and specks. The ventral surface is translucent grey with dense cream and brown mottling and speckling. As of March 2011, the eggs and tadpoles have never been seen.
Habitat and distribution
The Kroombit tinkerfrog is currently known from only 12 small patches of rainforest totaling 596 ha at Kroombit Tops NP south-west of Gladstone in south-east Queensland. The 12 populations fall within an area of about 3000 hectares.
This species has only been recorded in small, narrow, isolated patches of notophyll rainforest where it is found amongst or under rocks and leaf litter in the vicinity of permanent and ephemeral rocky streams or seepage zones. Vegetation in this habitat is dominated by coachwood Ceratopetalum apetalum and or piccabeen palm Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, sometimes with emergent hoop pine Araucaria cunninghamii, blue quandong Elaeocarpus grandis, brush box Lophostemon confertus or Sydney blue gum Eucalyptus saligna.
Life history and behaviour
The call consists of a regularly repeated series of metallic 'tinks', each series lasting 2-4 seconds repeated at intervals of 3-10 seconds. The Kroombit tinkerfrog has been heard calling from September until early March, with peaks in calling most likely on warm nights between December and February. There is virtually no information on the female breeding cycle and eggs. Oviposition (where they lay their eggs) and tadpoles have not been described.
No tadpoles or eggs have been found despite intensive searches of standing water, leaf litter and rocky seepages.
Threatening processes
This species is probably vulnerable to the amphibian chytrid fungus that is likely to have caused the decline or disappearance of several species of frogs including four of the six Taudactylus species from rainforest streams in Queensland over the last 15 years. It is likely to be susceptible to trampling and increased nutrient loads resulting from grazing in and upstream of habitat areas. Trampling may also alter the hydrology of seepage areas. The tinkerfrog is also very likely to be susceptible to predation and habitat destruction by pigs. Fire may also threaten populations of the Kroombit tinkerfrog.
Recovery actions
The recovery plan makes the following management recommendations for the conservation of stream frogs of South-east Queensland:
- Removal of feral and domestic cattle and horses from all known and potential habitats.
- Protection of habitat from wildfire through a program of planned burns with minimum physical disturbance (e.g. fire control lines).
- Ongoing population monitoring at sites.
- Research exploring all aspects of the ecology of the Kroombit tinkerfrog, particularly the breeding biology, is needed to better understand this species.
Since development of the recovery plan feral pigs have invaded the habitat of the Kroombit tinkerfrog causing significant damage. Considerable efforts are underway to reduce the impacts of feral pigs.
Related information
Hines, H. B. and the South-east Queensland Threatened Frogs Recovery Team. 2002. Recovery plan for stream frogs of south-east Queensland 2001-2005. Report to Environment Australia, Canberra. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane.
Tyler, M.J. 1997 The Action Plan for Australian Frogs. Department of Environment, Heritage, Water and the Arts, Canberra.
Infection of amphibians with chytrid fungus resulting in chytridiomycosis. Threat Abatement Plan, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
Last updated 24 March 2011