Southern Corroboree Frogs

Photo Ark

Southern Corroboree Frogs

Scientific Name Pseudophryne corroboree

Photo Taken At Healesville, Victoria, Australia

IUCN Red List Status Critically Endangered

Population

The population size in the wild is now believed to number fewer than 250 mature individuals. Read More

Threats

The Corroboree Frog is one of a number of Australian alpine amphibian species that have experienced pronounced population declines for unknown reasons (Osborne, Hunter and Hollis 1999). There is no single aspect of the field biology of these species that stands out as a feature in common, and that might help explain the declines (Osborne, Hunter and Hollis 1999). Pseudophryne pengilleyi is still widespread and abundant at lower altitudes (Osborne, Hunter and Hollis 1999). Osborne, Hunter and Hollis (1999) reviewed some of the possible factors contributing to population declines at high altitudes including long-term weather patterns and pathogens such as ... Read More

Geographic Range

Prior to the detailed survey undertaken by Osborne (1989), there were museum records of P. corroboree from only seven locations, all in the Snowy Mountains of southeastern New South Wales, Australia (Guthega, Smiggin Holes, Happy Jacks Plain, Round Mt., Alpine Hut, Pretty Plain and Tooma Swamp). Osborne (1989) subsequently recorded the species at most of these sites (although was unable to find the species near Guthega and Alpine Hut) in a survey that included 257 potential breeding sites, recording the species at 63 locations. The extent of occurrence of the species was reported to be about 400km² in a relatively ... Read More

Habitat

The Corroboree Frog is a habitat specialist, restricted to montane and sub-alpine woodlands, heathland and grassland above about 1,000m asl. Breeding sites are associated with shallow pools, fens, seepages, wet grassland, and wet heaths. Non-breeding habitat occurs in forest, woodland and heath adjacent to breeding sites. It breeds in shallow pools or seepages. Osborne (1990b) summarised the main features of their reproductive ecology (after Pengilley 1966, 1971, 1973; W.S. Osborne unpubl.). Field measurements (Pengilley 1973) suggest that the species reaches sexual maturity at three years of age (i.e., one year as an embryo/tadpole and two years as a juvenile/sub-adult), which ... Read More

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RECENTLY ADDED SPECIES

Jean-Marc Hero, Graeme Gillespie, Peter Robertson, Frank Lemckert 2004. Pseudophryne corroboree. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T18582A8484537. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T18582A8484537.en