Which frog croaks

Once you learn what each local frog species sounds like, you can survey for frogs just by listening! Most frog species are nocturnal and are therefore more active, and vocal, after dusk. So night time is the best time to hear frogs calling. Given their reliance on water for breeding, it's not suprising that frogs tend to call more after rain. Some frog species breed almost all year "prolonged breeders" , others will only breed and therefore call a few nights a year "explosive breeders". Timing is everything if you want to hear some of the more fussy frogs!

While the best time to hear frogs is typically the warmer months, as most frog species choose to breed in the spring and summer, some frog species prefer the cooler months. Others, such as the desert-dwelling Water-holding Frog Cyclorana platycephala , will just call anytime that it rains enough. So, that frog calling from your backyard pond is an amorous male, crooning to attract the female frog of his dreams.

Lucky for us, frog calls also double as a sneaky way to identify what species of frog are living near you. Squeaky chirps or weeps are given during aggressive encounters between males. Release calls, which are produced by both genders, sound very similar to the aggressive calls.

Calls are usually delivered in a short series, dropping slightly in pitch and volume from beginning to end: GUNK! During an encounter, a male may give a stuttering series of guttural notes that have a Bullfrog-like quality, followed by a sharp staccato note. An abrupt iCUP! The aggressive call is an abrupt, spitlike phphoot!

A frightened individual, especially a juvenile, may give a loud eeek! Aroused individuals produce rolling, stuttered series of calls: grrruut-grrruut-grrruut-grrruut. Calls are repeated every five to ten seconds. This frog can be found in many places across South Australia, including Kangaroo Island, Adelaide and its surrounds, and the southern Flinders Ranges. Having this frog in your garden can be great for your plants, as it can help control pest insects. But if you want to encourage it in, why not build a pond.

In fact, keeping your cat indoors is the best option for all native animals and can be beneficial for your feline friend too.

Wondering who that noisy frog is, croaking at night? It could be the banjo frog. A pair of banjo frogs can be responsible for almost eggs, with tadpoles hatching after a week or so. During the day, these frogs generally like to hide in grass, reeds or similar, and they usually lay their eggs in a foam nest made by mixing air into the jelly as their eggs are laid. Keep your eyes out for the burrowing frog, with its striking looks and cat-like eyes.

But first, familiarise yourself with how the burrowing frog looks and sounds.