The endangered southern toadlet is well camouflaged. Photo: Dave Newman LAST month local frog expert Brendan Casey asked visitors to the Western Port Woodlands to listen out for and record frog calls in hopes that they might record endangered a southern toadlet.
It seemed a long shot at the time. The last verified call of the frog in Bass Coast was in 2005 near the Holden Proving ground. It was also recorded within the HPG in 2012.
Just two weeks after Dr Casey's call, the Australian Museum’s Frog ID confirmed a recording of a southern toadlet in the Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve. Since then, Dave and Jackie Newman have made more than a dozen recordings at a number of sites throughout the Western Port Woodlands.
It seemed a long shot at the time. The last verified call of the frog in Bass Coast was in 2005 near the Holden Proving ground. It was also recorded within the HPG in 2012.
Just two weeks after Dr Casey's call, the Australian Museum’s Frog ID confirmed a recording of a southern toadlet in the Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve. Since then, Dave and Jackie Newman have made more than a dozen recordings at a number of sites throughout the Western Port Woodlands.
Last week, in a remarkable team effort with six other naturalists, they photographed two toadlets and the following day photographed a toadlet pair with a clutch of eggs.
All recordings and photographs have been referred to the Australian Museum’s Frog ID and iNaturalist for verification.
All recordings and photographs have been referred to the Australian Museum’s Frog ID and iNaturalist for verification.
Parks Victoria has now closed the track where the rare frog is nesting. Photo: Tim Herring
Dr Casey said the rare frog was recorded on a track surrounded by large open-cut sand mines. “The habitat is under direct threat right now. We have no way of knowing what’s going on inside the mine sites, but there now seems every likelihood that they contain precious southern toadlet habitat."
He said it was significant that the toadlet has been recorded in both the northern and southern reaches of the woodlands in the past week, increasing the urgency of protecting the entire woodland corridor. He has now set up recording equipment at several sites on private land near the Holden Proving Ground.
The discovery reinforces a recent recommendation by a conclave of ecologists at the Bass Coat Distinctive Areas and Landscapes hearing for protection of Western Port Woodlands and its unique biodiversity.
“This is a chance for the Victorian Government to step up and show leadership in the protection of biodiversity, as the other states are doing,” Dr Casey said.
The tiny southern toadlets, about the size of a fingernail, are incredibly difficult to spot. In recent years they have been reclassified from vulnerable to endangered in Victoria after scientists realised the known populations were crashing due to habitat destruction.
Dave Newman said he was familiar with the frog from his childhood in Hallam. “They were everywhere when I was growing up. The fact that they are now endangered shows how vulnerable these populations are.
“These stunning little frogs are remarkably camouflaged. Even with close up photos it's difficult to see them properly.”
The toadlets’ “nest” – basically a shallow depression in a sandy track – is also well camouflaged and very vulnerable.
Dr Casey contacted Parks Victoria and the track where the nest was found has now been closed to walkers and horse-riders.
He said it was significant that the toadlet has been recorded in both the northern and southern reaches of the woodlands in the past week, increasing the urgency of protecting the entire woodland corridor. He has now set up recording equipment at several sites on private land near the Holden Proving Ground.
The discovery reinforces a recent recommendation by a conclave of ecologists at the Bass Coat Distinctive Areas and Landscapes hearing for protection of Western Port Woodlands and its unique biodiversity.
“This is a chance for the Victorian Government to step up and show leadership in the protection of biodiversity, as the other states are doing,” Dr Casey said.
The tiny southern toadlets, about the size of a fingernail, are incredibly difficult to spot. In recent years they have been reclassified from vulnerable to endangered in Victoria after scientists realised the known populations were crashing due to habitat destruction.
Dave Newman said he was familiar with the frog from his childhood in Hallam. “They were everywhere when I was growing up. The fact that they are now endangered shows how vulnerable these populations are.
“These stunning little frogs are remarkably camouflaged. Even with close up photos it's difficult to see them properly.”
The toadlets’ “nest” – basically a shallow depression in a sandy track – is also well camouflaged and very vulnerable.
Dr Casey contacted Parks Victoria and the track where the nest was found has now been closed to walkers and horse-riders.