The large toadlet or great toadlet or major toadlet (''Pseudophryne major'') is a species of ground-dwelling frog native to eastern Queensland (including Moreton and North Stradbroke Island) and northern New South Wales,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

Description

It is a relatively large species for its genus reaching about 40 mm in length, making it the largest Australian "toadlet". It is normally red-brown on the back with darker marbling and scattered warts and ridges. There is often a red mid-dorsal stripe present. There is a golden yellow patch in the armpits and the side and arms are bluish grey. The ventral surface is dark brown or black with yellowish white marbling. Its snout is relatively sharp.

Ecology and behaviour

This species inhabits in damp areas, creek lines or bogs in dry forest, woodland, sclerophyll forest and heathland. They often live in burrows or damp leaf litter, frequently under rocks or logs. Males make a grating "ark" call after rain from hidden localities, during most of the year. Eggs are laid in moist situations and hatch after heavy rain floods the nest site where tadpoles continue their development in temporary to semi permanent water.

Similar species

This species is similar to the Bibron's toadlet (''

Pseudophryne bibronii The Bibron's toadlet or brown toadlet (''Pseudophryne bibronii'') is a species of Australian ground-dwelling frog that, although having declined over much of its range, is widespread through most of New South Wales, Victoria, south-eastern Que ...

'') from which it can be distinguished by having more red on the back, pointed snout and blue-grey flanks. It is also similar to the magnificent brood frog (''

Pseudophryne covacevichae The magnificent brood frog or magnificent broodfrog (''Pseudophryne covacevichae'') is a species of frog in the family Myobatrachidae. It is endemic to Queensland, Australia, and is known from near Ravenshoe in the southern Atherton Tableland and ...

'') from which it can be distinguished from by distribution. copper-backed brood frog (''

Pseudophryne raveni The copper-backed brood frog (''Pseudophryne raveni'') is a species of frog in the family Myobatrachidae. It is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or tropical dry forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, fr ...

'') the red-backed toadlet (''

Pseudophryne coriacea ''Pseudophryne'' is a genus of small myobatrachid frogs. All of these frogs are small terrestrial frogs, and as such, most species are commonly called toadlets (''pseudo-'' meaning deceptive, ''phryne'' meaning toad). The genus comprises thirtee ...

'') are also similar to this species, however they can be distinguished by a larger amount of red or copper on the back and a white, not yellow arm patch.

References

* Robinson, M. 2002. A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia. Australian Museum/Reed New Holland: Sydney.
Frogs Australia Network - ''Pseudophryne major''

IUCN Red List

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2276932 Amphibians of Queensland Amphibians of New South Wales Pseudophryne Amphibians described in 1940 Frogs of Australia