Fletcher's Frog
Platyplectrum fletcheri
- Class
- Amphibian
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 301
- Most observed in
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
Fletcher's frog (Platyplectrum fletcheri), commonly known as the sandpaper frog or black-soled frog, is a species of nocturnal, terrestrial frog native to eastern Australia. It is primarily found in wet sclerophyll forests along mountain ranges and the coast. The Fletcher's frog's breeding behavior revolves around ephemeral water bodies created by rainfall. Male frogs compete with one another over territories that contain these pools, while female frogs choose desirable males to mate with. Female frogs produce foam and lay their eggs within the frothy mass. The nest's mucus has protective properties that enhance the survival odds of the progeny. Because ephemeral environments are resource-poor, sandpaper frog tadpoles rely primarily on the cannibalism of conspecific eggs to satisfy their nutritional needs. The Fletcher's frog's post-metamorphic life revolves around foraging for food in leaf litter and searching for mates. The Fletcher's frog is a semelparous species, mating and laying an abundance of eggs after a courtship opportunity that might arise once in a lifetime.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Fletcher's frog”.