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Kroombit Tinkerfrog

  • Length Around 30mm
  • Weight 1.8 – 4 grams
  • Class Amphibians
  • Gestation Frogs don't gestate their young
  • Diet Small insects
  • Status Critically Endangered
  • Features & Adaptations
  • Habitat & Environment
  • Diet
  • Lessen The Threat

On the Brink of Extinction...

The Kroombit tinkerfrog is a small, cryptic and rarely seen frog species, found only in the Kroombit Tops National Park in Central Queensland.

These tiny little frogs are so close to being extinct, thanks to habitat degradation, pest species, bush fires and amphibian chytrid fungus.

Kroombit Tinkerfrog Facts

  • Common Names

    Kroombit Tinkerfrog

  • Scientific Names

    Taudactylus pleione

Do You Know?

Tinkerfrogs got their name from their unique 'tink, tink, tink' sound. It sounds like tiny pieces of metal being hit together.

A small brown and yellow frog sits on wet pebbles and sand near shallow water.

Kroombit Tinkerfrog Features & Adaptations

They are tiny and rarely seen frogs. They are very hard to find as their markings provide superior camouflage in the wild.

A brown and tan frog sits on a wet rock, partially in water.

Kroombit Tinkerfrog Habitat & Environment

They live in narrow rainforest gullies, amongst rocks and leaf litter in the Kroombit Tops National Park.

Kroombit Tinkerfrog Distribution

A simple map illustration of Australia showing its states and territories outlined in different pastel colors against a blue background.

Kroombit Tinkerfrogs are only found in the Kroombit Tops National Park in Central Queensland, around 80km southwest of Gladstone.

Orange-brown frog with a black patch on its side stands on wet, mossy ground under bright light.

Kroombit Tinkerfrog's Diet

They are predominantly insectivorous, eating small insects and arthropods.

Life Cycle of Kroombit Tinkerfrogs

Before the successful breeding events at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, little was known about the lifecycle of the species.

Kroombit Tinkerfrogs lay their eggs under a rock submerged in shallow still water. The eggs hatch after 11-15 days and take 8-15 months to metamorphose into tiny froglets.

Threats to Kroombit Tinkerfrogs

Kroombit Tinkerfrog populations are affected by habitat degradation caused by introduced pest species and bush fires, however the amphibian chytrid fungus is likely to be the most significant factor in the decline of this species.

Two small, wet frogs with mottled brown and gray skin sit on a smooth, damp rock surface.

Ways to lessen the threat to Kroombit Tinkerfrogs

  • Donate to Tinkerfrog conservation work
  • Purchase items from the wishlist
  • Visit the Frog Lab at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Gallery

A small brown frog with white spots sits on a rough, brown rock against a plain background.
A small, bright orange frog with dark markings sits on a forest floor covered in leaves and bark.