Fletcher's Frog

Scientific name: Lechriodus fletcheri

Alternative name/s:
Sandpaper Frog

Author(s)

FrogID Team
Updated

21/04/22
Read time

2 minutes

Lechriodus fletcheri — Fletcher's Frog 15.1 Image: Robert W G Jenkins
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

Classification

Genus

Lechriodus

Species

fletcheri

Family

Myobatrachidae

Order

Anura

Subclass

Lissamphibia

Subphylum

Vertebrata

Phylum

Chordata

Kingdom

Animalia
Size Range

5 cm

Description

A medium-sized species of frog reaching up to 5.5 cm in body length. It has a dark brown, reddish-brown or dull yellow back, with a black stripe from the nostril to the shoulder. The belly is white. The pupil is horizontal and the iris is gold. The legs have distinct dark horizontal bars. Fingers are unwebbed and toes are slightly webbed, both without discs.

Similar Species

Looks similar to Mixophyes balbus, Mixophyes fasciolatus, Mixophyes fleayi, and Mixophyes iteratus in its distribution, but is generally smaller and has a horizontal pupil instead of the vertical pupil present in all Mixophyes species.

Distribution

The Fletcher's Frog is found in eastern Queensland and New South Wales.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid as a foamy mass on the surface of small temporary ponds or still pools in creeks. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to 4 cm and are clear or dark brown in colour. They are highly cannibalistic, and take 20-30 days to develop into frogs. Breeds during spring and summer after rain.