Crinia tinnula
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Crinia tinnula tadpole
Copyright © Marion Anstis
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Crinia tinnula
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Status
IUCN Classification:
Vulnerable
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Bioregion occurrence:
(this is not a distribution map)
State occurrence:
Links
- Wallum Froglet
AmphibiaWeb page on Crinia tinnula
Search on this family or genus
Crinia tinnula
Family: Myobatrachidae
Common names: Wallum Froglet; Tinkling Froglet
Description: The colour patterns of this frog vary between individuals. They can range from black through shades of brown to grey. The patterning on the back can be:
- light coloured with black sides
- grey to brown with dark patches
- a dark band down the spine with bordering brown and grey stripes
- light coloured with an incomplete dark band down the spine between longitudinal skinfolds and black sides
This frog often has a line of white spots down the middle of the throat. Its belly is granular and usually white or light brown with a few dark flecks. The snout of this frog projects beyond the lower jaw, which can be clearly seen when the frog is viewed in profile. The fingers and toes have no webbing.
Size: 30 mm
Habitat: This frog is believed to be only found in acid paperbark swamps in the 'wallum' country of coastal South East Queensland and Northern NSW.
Call: A short high-pitched ring "tching...tching" like the tinkling of a bell. Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © David Stewart.
Breeding: Males call all year round from secluded positions beside the water or while afloat among vegetation. Breeding is known to occur in autumn and may also occur in late winter, spring and late summer.
Eggs: Are very small and are often attached to the stems of plants.
Tadpoles: Are small in size and a dark brown colour. These tadpoles are quite strong swimmers and dart amongst the leaf litter at the bottom of ponds.
Similar species: This species can be distinguished from frogs in the same genus through its belly and throat colouration, snout and call. Frogs in the genus Crinia can be distinguished from species of Uperoleia by their lack of parotoid glands, Paracrinia and Assa by their presence of a granular belly and Pseudophryne by their less vivid belly markings.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Direct human impact/urbanisation/tourism
- Inappropriate catchment management, including degraded water quality
- Inappropriate fire regimes
- Exotic predators (e.g. trout, Gambusia)
- Habitat modification (e.g. vegetation clearing, invasive weeds)
Population size: An estimate of the total number of adults present in the species entire range is >50000 individuals. Some factors affecting population size and distribution are known, but 1 or more major factors are unknown.
Population trend in Australia over the past 50 years: Population size known to be decreasing.
Knowledge of population trend in Australia: Monitored locally.
Population concentration: Not known to concentrate or exist in discrete locations. (e.g. the number of sites in which individuals group together either seasonally, such as breeding sites, or they may occupy discrete habitat patches within the broader landscape, such as discrete water bodies or drainage units.)
Ongoing management activities in Australia: Management mostly related to enforcement of conservation laws.
Reproductive potential for recovery: The average number of eggs deposited per adult female per year is 51-200 eggs/female/year. Minimum age at which females are known or suspected to first reproduce is <2 years.
Range size in Australia: The size of the geographic area over which the taxon is distributed: 101-1000 km².
Distribution trend: Area occupied has declined by 25-74%. (This is an estimate of change in the portion of the total range that is occupied or utilised; it may not equal the change in total range.)
Knowledge of distribution in Australia: Broad range limits or habitat associations are known, but local occurrence cannot be predicted accurately.
References
Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney.
Barker, J., G.C. Grigg and M.J. Tyler. 1995. A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty & Sons: Chipping Norton.
Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. Reed Books: Sydney.
Robinson, M. 2002. A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia. Australian Museum/Reed New Holland: Sydney.