Desert Trilling Frog
Neobatrachus sudellae
AKA: Sudell's Frog, Centralian Trilling Frog, Meeowing Frog, Common Spadefoot Frog.
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Photo Credit: Logan Watson (me)
Call:
Conservation Status
Least Concern (Population Stable)
Max Size:
5.5cm
Diet
Desert Trilling frogs are nocturnal Insectivores that feed on small invertebrates.
Habitat
Trilling Frogs are usually found in remote environments during and after heavy rainfall. They are not commonly seen in town.
Unique Adaptaions:
Trilling Frog can enter a dormant state underground by slowing their metabolism while they await rainfall. As mentioned, they typically emerge to hunt and breed before digging underground and returning to said dormant state before it dries up again. As such, they can go extremely long times without access to food or water in this state due to ceasing all but essential bodily functions.
Risks to People
None. Trilling Frog are usually very timid frogs. Some individuals may bite, but this is painless and uncommon behaviour for this species. Regardless, Handling this species is ill-advised due to the presence of natural oils on human skin that can be harmful to these animals. Please look, but don't touch.
Breeding Behaviours
Desert Trilling Frog ordinarily emerge during and after heavy rainfall to breed. Frogspawn is laid by females into deep pockets of water where the emerging tadpoles will hatch within days and reach full maturation in as little time as 15 days. This accelerated growth allows Trilling Frogs to effectively reproduce and maintain a healthy population even in environments where water is typically scarce, such as around Whyalla.
Appearance
Trilling Frogs are of a medium size, and are typically brown or yellow in colouration. Individual frogs will have a unqiue marbled patterning on the back. Healthy specimens are usually very plump and almost round in shape and stature.
They are very similar in appearance to other members of their genus the 'Painted Burrowing Frog' (N. pictus) and the 'Shoemaker Frog' (N. sutor). To my knowledge, N. pictus can also be found around the region, but I am yet to confirm this.
Desert Trilling Frogs
Neobatrachus sudelli
Desert Trilling Frogs are from my experience the most common frog species found around Whyalla. They are medium sized frogs, with large specimens reaching an average of approximately 5.5cm long, however on rare occasions reaching as large as 6.5cm. They are quite frequently seen along highways, and roadways closer to the outskirts of town after large rainfall, where these animals emerge to hunt and breed. These animals present a unique case of regional diversity, with specimens from different areas having different colouration and patterning. The individuals around Whyalla are typically a brown to beige colour, with darker mottled brown pattering on the back which is completely unique to the individual.
It is worth noting their similar appearance to other frogs of their genus such as Neobatrachus pictus (Painted Burrowing Frog) which reportedly can also be seen around the region.
Trilling Frogs typically spend a large majority of their lifetime buried under soil in a self-induced state of torpor. Ceasing all but essential bodily functions. It is believed that these frogs can remain in this state for multiple years without food or water and emerge once it begins to rain.
During rainfall, Trilling Frogs emerge to hunt and breed as the conditions become more favourable for them to do so without drying out. This is more important in a desert environment where reliable water is far less common.
Trilling Frogs are known to breed throughout the year but such is most common during the winter where water evaporates slower due to the colder temperatures. After rainfall, the males will typically be seen along the edge of claypans and other water congestion points calling to mates. Females ordinarily lay clusters of eggs (frogspawn) loosely near the surface of large pockets of water formed by rain typically on nearby plants, where tadpoles will soon hatch and feed on vegetation that falls into the water. Tadpoles usually take up to 6 Months to grow to maturity, however it is understood that in warmer conditions, tadpoles will mature much faster due to water pockets not lasting as long and rain being less frequent. Individuals of this species I temporarily kept in captivity for observation reached maturity from tadpole to frog in as soon as 15 days although they were noticeably smaller than they would have been otherwise. I released the frogs shortly after.
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Trilling Frogs are usually seen feeding on small invertebrates also brought out by the rain such as spiders, crickets and roaches. However they have also been known to predate on small reptiles such as Geckos.
Desert Trilling Frogs can be kept in captivity with certain wildlife permits.