What do water holding frogs look like?
The stocky, medium sized Water-holding Frog has a flat head and small eyes. Their dull grey or olive-grey skin may also show darker speckles. The belly and underside are white and their skin is silky smooth.
Where are water holding frogs found?
If you live in western New South Wales, southern Queensland, north-eastern South Australia, western Western Australia or one of the select spots in the Northern Territory where these species live – you may spot one during very wet periods.
Fast facts:
- Indigenous people used water holding frogs as a source of food and water when they were out in the desert.
- The Water-holding Frog can stay underground for years at a time before digging itself to the surface to feed after rain. They need to build up fat reserves as fast as possible before the water evaporates from the ground.
Water holding frogs – the full story
As heavy rains and floods turn parched, cracked earth to oozing mud, one of Australia’s most incredible frogs is just waking up.Droplets of water dripping down into its chamber up to 1 m underground are telling the Water-holding Frog that it’s time to swim, feed and breed.
Considered one of the freakiest frogs of Australia, the water-holding frog can spend years in a hibernation-like state buried deep underground. With a super-sized bladder capable of holding water for up to five years whilst buried below the surface, the water-holding frog was also considered a nutritious and hydrating snack by Australia’s First Nations people traveling through the desert.
Ranging in colour from olive and dull grey to dark brown, water-holding frogs have thick bodies usually with a whitish under belly. The variety of colourations provide the frogs with an effective camouflage coat to protect them against predators such as snakes, monitor lizards, and birds as they wallow in streams, ponds, and clay pans.
This frog has a flat head with small eyes and smooth upper skin that is dappled with a few low warts. The water-holding frog has fully webbed toes and a small ridge on the underside of its back feet called a metatarsal tubercle which is used as a spade to dig.
If you live in western New South Wales, southern Queensland, north-eastern South Australia, or one of the select spots in the Northern Territory where the Eastern Water-holding Frog (Cyclorana platycephala) lives – you may spot one during very wet periods.The Western Water-holding Frog (Cyclorana occidentalis) is found only on the coast and inland Western Australia. Until 2017 it was thought to be the same species as it’s more easterly relative.Water-holding frogs can stay underground for years at a time before digging itself to the surface to feed after rain. They need to build up fat reserves as fast as possible before the water evaporates from the ground.
Size range: Their length from nose to rear end is up to 72 mm females) and 64 mm (males).
Regions: Flinders Ranges, North East, North West
Description: Water-holding Frogs are a moderate-sized stout frog with a flat head and small eyes that point obliquely upwards. Their skin is dull-grey to olive-grey or grey with light green patches, especially on the head. Their upper body has scattered fine dark flecks and their belly and lower surfaces are white. Their body’s upper skin is smooth, with a few low warts. Their toes are fully webbed.
Habitat: They are found in grasslands, temporary swamps or pools, claypans, creeks and billabongs. Their distribution in South Australia is limited to the north of the State.
Call description: Their call is a long, drawn out ‘maw-w-w-w…maw-w-w-w’.
Breeding behaviour: Large amounts of spawn are laid in still water after floods. Tadpoles reach a maximum of 60 mm.
Interesting facts: This is one of Australia’s best known water-holding frogs. In dry periods, as surface waters disappear, it burrows into the ground into a waterproof cocoon-like chamber, lined with shed skin. Water is stored in the bladder or in pockets under the skin, and the frog can reduce its metabolic rate and stay in this chamber for dry periods up to years in length. This process is called aestivation. The water may constitute up to sixty per cent of the weight of the frog. Slight pressure can make the frog release this water without harming it, and there are documented accounts of Aboriginal people in that area finding these frogs by spotting identifying marks on the ground, or tapping the surface, and using them as a source of drinking water.
Above ground this frog spends most of its time swimming in pools, feeding on insects, tadpoles and smaller frogs. They catch their swimming prey with their hands and stuff it in their mouths. They’ll also prey on ants and termites on dry land.Male Water-holding Frogs waste no time looking for a mate. It sounds like a motorbike starting when a group of males gather beside a pond to call out in congress, making loud, long, slow ‘maaaw-w-w‘ sounds to attract females.
Females lay more than 500 eggs at a time in clumps in ponds. These eggs develop into large, golden tadpoles which must turn into frogs before the water dries up. It takes them about 30 days to metamorphose into young frogs.
The Water-holding Frog needs to get back underground before the ground becomes too hard to burrow through. When the time has come, the frog will burrow backwards into the mud, using their back legs like spades.Once underground it sheds several layers of skin to create a translucent, waterproof cocoon around itself. This helps it preserve water for the many long months ahead.The frog’s metabolic rate also slows and it enters a kind of suspended animation. It will have to live off fat reserves and water stored in its bladder until the next heavy rains.
Did you know?
If you have a frog pond in your garden, put a solar-powered light beside it to attract insects at night. This will attract frogs looking for an easy meal- and the insects they eat.Indigenous people used these frogs as a source of food and water when they were out in the desert.
Native to Australia, the eastern water-holding frog (Cyclorana platycephala) can be found in western New South Wales, southern Queensland, north-eastern South Australia, and a few select spots within the Northern Territory. The western water-holding frog (Cyclorana occidentalis) in found inland and on the coast of Western Australia.
This unique amphibian makes its home within a wide variety of habitats including grasslands, temporary swamps, or pools after heavy rain periods, as well as wet scrub, forest, claypans, creeks and billabongs.
During the dry season, the water-holding frog spends its time hidden from sight, burrowed deep in the soil. When the summer rains arrive and water soaks down into the earth, the water holding frog is awoken from its slumber and makes it way to the surface to feed and breed. During their time above the ground, the water-holding frog hides under plant vegetation or rocks during the day and is active at night.
The water-holding frog takes full advantage of the short time it spends on land, eating a buffet of worms, insects, tadpoles, and other small frogs to build up energy and fat reserves as quickly as possible. It also absorbs half its body weight in water, storing it in its bladder and in pockets of its skin.
As well as filling its body with nutrients and H2O, the water-holding frog doesn’t waste time in finding a mate once it emerges from underground after the rains. The male’s distinct mating call sounds a bit like a motorbike starting with a long and low ‘maaaw-w-w,’ helps to attract a female frog. After mating, the female water-holding frog lays up to 500 eggs in a puddle. Once hatched, these large, golden tadpoles must then go through the cycle of metamorphosis and become froglets before the ground dries up again.
The water-holding frog goes to extreme measures to survive once the land begins to dry out, thanks to a process called aestivation. After the rains, when the environment is hot and dry, the frog will use its spade like feet to bury itself deep underground, where it then reduces its core metabolic rate and begins a period of hibernation.
This strange yet amazing adaptation sees the water-holding frog shed several layers of skin which it then uses to densely line the inside of its hole. This type of translucent, waterproof dead-skin cocoon helps the frog to maintain the water inside its body, allowing it to remain happily buried underground in its chamber for dry periods that may last years at a time.
The water-holding frog, a remarkable amphibian native to Australia, has captivated the interest of researchers and nature enthusiasts alike. Known scientifically as Cyclorana platycephala, this extraordinary creature exhibits unique adaptations that enable it to thrive in its arid environment.
Habitat
The water-holding frog inhabits the semi-arid regions of Australia, particularly in areas characterized by seasonal rainfall. Its preferred habitats include open woodlands, grasslands, and areas surrounding ephemeral ponds. During dry periods, these frogs exhibit a fascinating behavioral adaptation: they burrow into the soil to escape the harsh conditions above. This ability to dig deep into the ground allows them to remain dormant for extended periods, conserving moisture and energy until the rains return.
Adaptations for Survival
One of the most intriguing features of the water-holding frog is its remarkable capacity to endure prolonged periods of drought. When faced with arid conditions, these frogs enter a state of estivation—a form of dormancy similar to hibernation. During estivation, their metabolic rate significantly decreases, allowing them to survive on stored body fat. They can remain in this dormant state for several years if necessary, emerging only when environmental conditions become favorable.
In addition to their estivation behavior, water-holding frogs possess a unique physiological adaptation: they can absorb water through their skin. This remarkable capability enables them to hydrate themselves from the surrounding soil or from rainwater that seeps into their burrows. This adaptation is crucial for survival in their often parched habitats.
Diet
The diet of the water-holding frog primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. These frogs are opportunistic feeders, consuming whatever prey is available in their environment. Their diet may include ants, beetles, and various types of larvae. The water-holding frog employs a sit-and-wait strategy for hunting; it remains motionless until an unsuspecting prey comes within striking distance.
During periods of heavy rainfall, when food becomes more abundant, these frogs exhibit increased activity levels. They venture out from their burrows to forage for food, taking advantage of the plentiful resources available after a downpour. This feeding frenzy is essential for replenishing their energy reserves after months of dormancy.
Reproductive Behavior
The reproductive habits of the water-holding frog are equally fascinating. Breeding typically occurs during the wet season when rain creates temporary ponds ideal for laying eggs. Males call out to attract females with a distinctive croaking sound that resonates through the night air. Once a female selects a mate, she lays her eggs in shallow water where they will hatch into tadpoles.
The tadpoles develop rapidly in response to the abundant food supply found in these temporary pools. Within weeks, they metamorphose into juvenile frogs and begin their journey into adulthood. This rapid life cycle ensures that the species can take full advantage of ephemeral wetland habitats.
Conservation Status
Despite its remarkable adaptations, the water-holding frog faces threats from habitat destruction and climate change. Urbanization and agricultural expansion have led to significant loss of its natural habitat, while changing weather patterns pose additional challenges to its survival. Conservation efforts are essential to protect this unique species and its environment.
the water-holding frog exemplifies nature’s ingenuity in adapting to extreme conditions. Its fascinating behaviors and physiological traits not only allow it to survive but also thrive in one of the world’s most challenging environments. As we continue to explore and understand these remarkable amphibians, we gain valuable insights into the resilience of life on Earth and the importance of preserving our natural ecosystems.