Wallum frogs is the collective term applied to a suite of frog species that are found only in wallum/heath environments. These environments are characterised by vegetation such as Melaleucas, sedges and banksias. The waters in these swampy areas are tannin-stained and of a low pH due to the dissolved organic acids.
My friend Kat (of crayfish fame) is now doing a PhD looking at factors that influence the distribution of these wallum froggies. I went out with her on Friday night to have a bit of a poke around. I’d never explored any wallum country, so I was happy to see the three species that we were hoping for (plus one ubiquitous foreigner).
Crinia tinnula
Litoria olongburensis. Caught under permit.
You know, we often joke about burning animals’ eyes out with our high-powered flashes. I never knew it could actually happen…
I didn’t mean for this to happen. At least it was self-cauterising
Litoria olongburensis. Caught under permit.
The blue thigh colouration is typical of this species.
Litoria olongburensis
Litoria freycineti
Bufo marinus
Man, where on earth did you find the Bufos? I’ve been looking everywhere for them but no matter how hard I try, they elude me!
haw haw.
Nice shots, as always…. but was it really such a boring trip that you resorted to photographing Bufos?
Don’t think of it as me resorting to photographing Bufos. Think of it as me producing amphibian porn.
Stewart
the tinnula photo is great, and freycineti looks good – you can really see that orange in the eye i was talking about
you’ll have to come and get a better olong one with me next time though
that was a really great trip!
Kat