Have you seen a green and golden bell frog?
The green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea) is
endangered in NSW and the Department of
Environment and Climate Change (DECC) is
trying to save it from extinction. You can help by:
• letting us know if you have seen it
• reading this brochure to find out more about it.
The green and golden bell frog was once very
common along coastal NSW and eastern Victoria
and in parts of the ranges and tablelands. Since the
1970s, its numbers and distribution have rapidly
declined. The likely reasons for this include:
• a severe fungal disease called frog chytrid
• loss and detrimental alteration of its habitat
• introduced fish, such as the plague minnow,
eating its eggs, tadpoles or hatchlings.
As at June 2008, only about 40 isolated green and
golden bell frog populations remain.
Green and golden bell frogs in NSW
1970s distribution of the
green and golden bell frog
Remaining key populations of
the green and golden bell frog
The two species also have very different calls. The
green and golden bell frog’s call is almost growling, a
grrrrrrrrk, grrrrk grrk grk that with practice can be
imitated – visit www.threatenedspecies.environment.
nsw.gov.au and search using ‘green and golden bell
frog’ to hear a recording. Eastern dwarf tree frogs have
a raspy wreeeet yitt yitt call – visit www.frogsaustralia.
net.au/frogs/calls/wma/litoria_fallax.wma to hear a
recording.
Eggs, tadpoles and juveniles
Green and golden bell frogs usually lay their eggs in
pools or ponds during spring and summer. Their eggs
are laid in a clear gel, not in a white foamy mass like
those of many other frogs.
Tadpoles grow rapidly and become quite big, up to
about 4 cm long, including the tail. When fully grown,
the tadpoles have the same cream stripe as the adults
along their sides, and a green tinge on their back.
Juvenile frogs take around 12 weeks to develop after
eggs are laid. When they transform from the tadpole
stage and lose their tail, they are about 2 cm long.
Once they become frogs, they may climb nearby
vegetation to feed, but then later will usually move to
other areas.
How you can help
• Tell us if you see or hear a green and
golden bell frog. Visit www.environment.
nsw.gov.au/surveys/bellfrogonlineform.htm,
or phone Environment Line on 131 555.
Avoid handling the frog, but take a photo of
it if you can to confirm identification later.
• Get involved in local projects. Phone
Environment Line on 131 555 to find the
location of your nearest green and golden bell
frog population and discover ways in which
you can help conserve it. Contact your local
council about bush regeneration or habitat
creation projects happening in your area.
• Make your garden or workplace more bell
frog-friendly. Build a fish-free pond in a
sunny position, with rocks, logs and
emergent plants such as reeds, sedges and
grasses around the edges.
Approximately 40 key populations remain
What does the green and golden
bell frog look like?
The adult frog is between 4½ and 10 cm long. There
is considerable variation in colour and patterning of
the back and limbs, which are usually a vivid green
blotched with differing amounts of gold, bronze
and brown. However, some frogs may be almost
entirely green, while others may be mainly golden,
bronze or brown. A creamy-white stripe extends
from behind the eye, over the ear, almost to the
groin, usually partly bordered underneath by a
darker stripe. An electric blue splash can be seen on
the groin and on the back of the thighs if the back
legs are extended.
Habitat and habits
Populations of the green and golden bell frog occur in
both natural and highly disturbed places, but need
particular habitat features. For breeding, the frog
prefers swamps, dams, ponds or slow-flowing streams,
particularly those with rushes or sedges, exposure to
sunlight and a varying water level. It also needs nearby
vegetation for foraging, and uses vegetation, rocks,
ground debris, soil cracks and other features for shelter
during the day and through winter.
• Don’t release introduced fish like ‘guppies’
(plague minnow), carp or goldfish into
creeks, dams or lakes.
• Prevent the spread of the frog chytrid
disease. Visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au/
plantsanimals/FrogChytridFungus.htm to
find out how you can help.
Further information
The NSW and Australian Governments are funding
activities to help recover the green and golden bell
frog. For more information on the frog’s
conservation and threats to its survival, visit
www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au
(search using ‘green and golden bell frog’, ‘frog
chytrid’ or ‘plague minnow’ as keywords).
Juvenile green and golden bell frogs can be
confused with adult eastern dwarf tree frogs (Litoria
fallax) which are similar in size. Eastern dwarf tree
frogs are also green and can have brown or bronze
blotches on the back. However, the green and
golden bell frog has a gold-edged cream stripe that
runs above the ear and down the side, while the
eastern dwarf tree frog has a cream stripe that runs
down the side from below the ear.
Eastern dwarf tree frog
Juvenile green and golden bell frog
Adult green and golden bell frogs quite often sun
themselves, and may perch on reeds or other objects
to bask. They are usually very alert to danger, and
when close to water, will hide in it.
Photo credits reverse side, top to bottom and left to right:
G. Daly, R. Parker-Wright, N. Williams and G. Daly.
Photo credits this side, top to bottom and left to right: S. Marks,
A. Goeth, H. Jessup, G. Daly, L. Jurd, L. Jurd, R. Parker-Wright,
S. Marks and Alcoa, Western Australian Museum Frog Watch.
Published by: Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW
PO Box A290, Sydney South 1232
Ph: (02) 9995 5000 (switchboard)
Ph: 131 555 (environment information and publications requests)
Fax: (02) 9995 5999 TTY: (02) 9211 4723
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au
DECC 2008/326 ISBN 978 1 74122 864 9
July 2008. Printed sustainably.
Tell us about it.
Report online at
www.environment.nsw.gov.au/surveys/bellfrogonlineform.htm
or phone Environment Line on 131 555.
For more information, visit
www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au