Qld: Researchers find SNAG frog on Hinchinbrook

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2000
Qld: Researchers find SNAG frog on Hinchinbrook

By Chris Herde

BRISBANE, Dec 15 AAP - Even the frog world has its SNAGS.

The discovery of a male frog protecting three lots of eggs - the frog world's version
of the sensitive new-age guy - in a north Queensland rainforest has excited scientists.

University of Queensland PhD student Conrad Hoskins found the paternal ornate nursery
frog while spotlighting in pristine rainforest on Hinchinbrook Island.

In what is believed to be an Australian-first the frog was found protecting three clutches
of eggs.

"There have only been a few records of male frogs protecting more than one clutch of
eggs," said Mr Hoskins, who made his discovery as part of a three-week expedition to the
island.

"This was very exciting because not only were there three separate clutches below the
frog but they were at different stages of development.

"A few centimetres underneath the frog was a fresh batch of eggs.

"Slightly behind the frog were some well-developed tadpoles within the eggs and hatching
out just near the frog were some tiny tadpoles."

The ornate nursery frog belongs to the Microhylid family which, though found worldwide,
is largely restricted to the upland Wet Tropics in Australia.

With this family of frogs, all tadpole development takes place in the large eggs rather
than in water pools.

The tiny frogs then hatch from the eggs and move into the forest.

Mr Hoskin said the frog he found was calling for another mate at the time.

"He was still at it, looking for another clutch of eggs to fertilise," Mr Hoskin said
in a statement.

"The male frog could be protecting the egg clutches from fungal disease, predators,
such as ants, or just from drying out.

"These frogs are usually so secretive that little is known about their behaviour or ecology."

The expedition, sponsored by the Rainforest Co-operative Research Centre, James Cook
University and the Australian Geographic Society Centre, marks the first time the high
mountain tops of the island have been intensively surveyed.

AAP ch/jhm/mjm

KEYWORD: FROGS

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