TUSKED FROG

The Tusked Frog is a unique amphibian, easily distinguished by its robust body and distinctive features. Males have small, sharp projections, or “tusks,” on their lower jaw, which are actually elongated teeth. These tusks are used during territorial battles. The frog’s skin is typically a dark olive to brown colour, often adorned with irregular darker blotches that provide excellent camouflage among leaf litter and muddy waters.

This intriguing creature is native to eastern Australia, predominantly found along the coastal regions of Queensland and New South Wales. They thrive in a variety of freshwater environments, including creeks, ponds, and marshes, often preferring habitats with plenty of vegetation and slow-moving water.

The Tusked Frog has a diet typical of many amphibians. It is primarily insectivorous, feasting on a variety of invertebrates such as insects, worms, and spiders. Their diet plays a crucial role in controlling pest populations in their ecosystems.

Breeding for the Tusked Frog occurs during the warmer months, typically from spring to summer. Males call to attract females with a distinctive series of soft, grunting sounds, somewhat like a distant motorbike. Once a mate is found, the female lays her eggs in shallow water. Remarkably, the male Tusked Frog then guards the eggs until they hatch, a behaviour not commonly seen in many other frog species.

The Tusked Frog can live several years, though precise data on their lifespan is limited. Like many frogs, their longevity is influenced by environmental conditions, predation, and availability of food.

Like many amphibians, they face threats from habitat destruction, pollution, and the spread of the chytrid fungus, which has devastated frog populations worldwide.

The call of the Tusked Frog is a low, repetitive grunt, often described as a soft motorbike revving in the distance. This sound is most commonly heard during the breeding season when males are actively seeking mates.