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| Smooth Froglet The smooth froglet (Geocrinia laevis) is found throughout northern and central Tasmania including King Island, where it occurs in open forest, woodlands and buttongrass moorlands. It also occurs in south-west Victoria and south-east South Australia. It reaches a length of 33mm. The tadpoles take about six months to complete their development.
The dorsal surface is smooth to slightly warty; dark brown in males; purplish with light coloured patches in females. The smooth froglet breeds in late summer and autumn and the eggs are laid in low-lying vegetated areas that will flood with the first rains of winter, as well as on the banks of ponds and dams. The embryos develop on land in the egg capsules until an advanced tadpole stage is reached. When the breeding site is flooded, the tadpoles commence aquatic life. If the heavy rains are delayed then the unhatched larvae can survive for several months provided sufficient moisture is available. Metamorphosis occurs in spring and summer, about 6-8 months after hatching.
.jpg) The species has a grating call 'creeeek-creek-creek-creek'. It can be heard during autumn.
Contact: Wildlife Management BranchWildlife Management Branch
Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
134 Macquarie Street, GPO Box 44
Hobart TAS 7001
Phone: 03 6233 6556
Fax: 03 6233 3477
Email: wildlife.enq@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
Littlejohn, M. (2003). Frogs of Tasmania. Fauna of Tasmania Handbook no. 6 (2nd ed). University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Frogs of Tasmania Poster. Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania.
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