Northern banjo frog facts for kids
The Northern banjo frog (Limnodynastes terraereginae) is a special kind of frog that lives mostly underground. You can find it in eastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales, which are parts of Australia.
Quick facts for kids Northern banjo frog |
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What Does It Look Like?
This frog is quite big, growing up to about 7.5 centimeters (3 inches) long. Its back is usually brown, sometimes with darker spots. What makes it really stand out are the bright red-orange or scarlet markings on its thighs and sides. These colorful patches are why it's also called the Scarlet-sided Pobblebonk!
It has a dark stripe that goes from its nose to its shoulder. Underneath this stripe, there's a raised cream or orange line. Its armpit area is orange, and its belly is white.
Where Does It Live and What Does It Do?
The Northern banjo frog is a burrowing frog, which means it likes to dig and live underground. It spends dry times hidden away in the soil. You can often find these frogs near dams, flooded areas, and ditches. They live in different places like forests, woodlands, open fields, or even farmland.
After heavy rains, usually from October to May, the male frogs start calling. They make a loud, high-pitched "bonk" sound. They usually call from hidden spots in the water.
Life Cycle of the Northern Banjo Frog
When it's time to lay eggs, the female frog creates a large, foamy mass that floats on the water. The eggs are inside this foam.
About two to three days later, tiny tadpoles hatch from the eggs. These tadpoles are very dark brown and can grow quite large, up to 7 centimeters (almost 3 inches). It takes about 70 days for the tadpoles to grow and change into small frogs. When they first transform, they are about 2 centimeters (less than an inch) long and look like miniature adult frogs. However, their bright red thigh color doesn't show up until about a week later.
Is It Like Other Frogs?
The Northern banjo frog looks a lot like the Eastern banjo frog. The easiest way to tell them apart is by looking at their thighs. The Northern banjo frog has those distinctive red markings on its thighs, while the Eastern banjo frog does not.
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