MISSING AND DECLINING FROGS OF THE AUSTRALIAN WET TROPICS

The stream-dwelling frogs of the Wet Tropics region form part of the evidence for "declining" frog populations that has recently alarmed herpetologists throughout the world. The observed decline in Wet Tropics frogs includes: the complete disappearance of three species, Taudactylus acutirostris, T. rheophilus and Litoria nyakalensis during recent years; the restricted distribution and uncertain status of Litoria lorica; and the disappearance of Litoria nannotis, L. rheocola and Nyctimystes dayi from altitudes over 450 meters. The reasons for the observed "declines" are unknown and this is perhaps the most perplexing ecological dilemma currently facing Australian biologists.

The following wet tropics frogs have shown severe declines and may be extinct in the wild:

• Mountain Mist Frog (Litoria nyakalensis)

• Northern Tinker-Frog (Taudactylus rheophilus)

• Sharp-snouted Day Frog (Taudactylus acutirostris)

The following stream-dwelling rainforest frogs have disappeared from sites at altitudes over 450m above sea level since 1990; but are still found at lower altitudes:

• Waterfall Frog (Litoria nannotis)

• Common Mist Frog (Litoria rheocola)

• Australian Lace-lid (Nyctimystes dayi)

See also "A Guide to Stream-dwelling Frogs of the Wet Tropics Rainforests" by J-M. Hero and S. Fickling.

Prepared by: J-M. Hero, G. Torr. Dept of Zoology, James Cook University, QLD 4811, Australia. Last updated April, 1995.

Jean-Marc.Hero@jcu.edu.au, Geordie.Torr@jcu.edu.au