My wildlife buddy Jimmy and I had been watching the weather for a few weeks. Jimmy had researched that in October to November after a day of heavy rain, Turtle Frogs come out to find a mate. He had seen them twice before.
Turtle Frogs (Myobatrachus gouldii) spend most of their life underground in burrows and mainly eat termites. They come to the surface for a short period to find a mate and then spend 4 months of foreplay whispering sweet nothings to each other. Then in February they mate, eggs are laid in the burrow and they develop into frogs – effectively bypassing the tadpole swimming stage entirely.
Anyway back to the weather – we had made plans twice already but the rain either didn’t happen or just wasn’t enough. This Wednesday had 10-15mm of rain and it had dried up a little in the afternoon but things were still damp.
Jimmy did a recce and sent excited texts that he could hear them calling and that he had found one. I left home later as I was getting kids in bed, but it looked like I was going to see my first Turtle Frog!
I drove to Reabold Hill carpark – parking about halfway up Scenic Drive, not going past the bollards which go up at about 8pm. I could hear the frogs and Jimmy wanted me to find my own. The tips were: use their calls to triangulate and narrow down their location (as you get closer they stop calling so you have to remain with your headtorch off, just waiting for them to call again), and they were often on the slightly more cleared sandy patches under the Banksia trees.
I heard quite a few and picked one to focus on finding. It took me a while to get my ear in and I went a fair way into the bush – I could hear one calling really close but I couldn’t spot it! Then there it was – just under a few pieces of dried grass were two – maybe they were a pair?
The photos make them look much larger than they are – these shots give an idea of scale.
I found about 6-7 that night which I was so pleased at – all the build up and two failed plans made this night more awesome!
These shots give an idea of the habitat they are calling from.
And a few more photos for good measure.
I also spotted this insect – I think it might be some sort of native cockroach.
Well another species found – now onto the next target!
Turtle Frog FAQ
Where can you find Turtle Frogs in Perth?
Reabold Hill in the City Beach / Floreat area is one of the most accessible spots. They are found in sandy Banksia woodland across the Swan Coastal Plain. Key is finding the right conditions – they emerge after heavy spring or early summer rain when soils are still damp.
When do Turtle Frogs come out?
October to November is the prime time, following significant rainfall of 10mm or more. They emerge after dark to call and find mates. The window can be short – sometimes just one or two nights after rain – so monitoring the weather closely and being ready to go is key.
How do you find Turtle Frogs at night?
Listen for their distinctive call and use it to triangulate. As you get closer they tend to stop calling, so switch your headtorch off and wait for them to call again. They tend to sit on open sandy patches under Banksia trees. Walk slowly and scan the ground carefully – they are well camouflaged against sand.
Do Turtle Frogs have tadpoles?
No – Turtle Frogs bypass the tadpole stage entirely. Eggs are laid in an underground burrow and develop directly into froglets. This is an adaptation to their dry, sandy environment where standing water for tadpoles is not reliably available.
Further Reading
- Frog Watching in WA — hub page for all frog posts
- Burrowing Frogs of WA — overview of WA’s burrowing frog species including Turtle Frog
- Where to See Wildlife in Western Australia — full location index
You can also follow along on Facebook and Instagram for more regular updates between posts.
Leave a Reply