GREEN AND GOLDEN BELL FROG

The Green and Golden Bell Frog is a striking amphibian. Its skin is smooth and vibrant, adorned with a mix of green and gold hues, often with irregular brown or bronze patches. This coloration provides excellent camouflage among reeds and grasses. It has a robust body, with large, powerful hind legs designed for jumping. Its eyes are prominent and expressive, giving it a rather alert appearance. Despite their name, these frogs spend much of their time on the ground or in water, rather than in trees.

This frog is primarily found along the east coast of Australia, from New South Wales to Victoria. It prefers habitats like marshes, swamps, and ponds, where there’s plenty of water and dense vegetation. However, it has also adapted to urban environments, sometimes being spotted in garden ponds or drainage systems.  They have a unique ability to absorb oxygen through their skin, which allows them to remain submerged for extended periods.

Green and Golden Bell Frogs are carnivorous, feasting on a diet of insects, spiders, and even smaller frogs. They are opportunistic feeders, meaning they’ll eat whatever prey is available, utilising their sticky tongues to catch their meals.

Breeding generally occurs in the warmer months, from late spring to early summer. Males call to attract females with a distinctive, low-pitched “wark-wark-wark” sound, reminiscent of a bell, which is how they got their name. Females lay eggs in clusters, which float on the water’s surface. These eggs hatch into tadpoles, which eventually metamorphose into frogs over several months.

Green and Golden Bell Frogs can live up to 10 years, although many face threats that can shorten their lifespan.

Unfortunately, this species is listed as vulnerable. Its numbers have declined due to habitat loss, pollution, disease, and the introduction of predators like the Gambusia fish. Conservation efforts must focus on habitat protection and restoration, as well as breeding programs to boost their numbers.

The call of the Green and Golden Bell Frog is quite distinctive. It resembles a series of bell-like notes, creating a rhythmic and somewhat musical chorus, especially during the breeding season.