Skip to content

Most Magnificent Broodfrog you’ve never heard of

Carly Starr (Ecologist)
Published 29 Mar 2021 by Carly Starr (Ecologist)

The Magnificent Broodfrog (Pseudophryne covacevichae) could easily vie for one of Australia’s least known amphibian species. Listed as endangered on the IUCN list, and vulnerable on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, there are no publications about this species' ecology or behavior, and a Recovery Plan written in 2000 never received funding for its implementation. Fast forward 21 years, and vast areas of this very special species' range are now earmarked for development.

‘Magnificent’ is certainly a great descriptor for this little frog, which only grows to a mere 28 mm – about the length of the end of your thumb.

Its vividly coloured body exhibits flickering and swirls of orange, blue, brown, and bright yellow, with a strikingly marbled black and white belly.

Distribution is primarily restricted to high elevation areas on Jirrbal country in the Ravenshoe- Atherton tablelands area of North Queensland, near Yourka Reserve. Recently, scientists have additionally discovered a small population closer to Paluma near Townsville. 

Known only from seepage areas along small streams in open eucalypt forests on rocky volcanic substrate, the short calling ‘arks’ of males used to attract females (listen below) can be heard on warm nights during the wet season from December to April.

The females lay eggs into nests made by the males, who guard them until the larvae undertake the next part of their lifecycle in water. These specific requirements for breeding are what places the Broodfrogs at such high risk from development; this rocky landscape often requires drilling, blasting and the importation of fill for establishing infrastructure. Sedimentation and changes to ground water are all likely outcomes from such impacts.  

In late 2020, I was invited to present at a National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Threatened Species Symposium in Cairns, as a representative of the Magnificent Broodfrog Recovery Team. While no such team had formally existed in over 20 years, a window of opportunity to raise the profile of this little-known species opened. 

What followed was not something I had anticipated. A fury of discussions, cups of tea, and scrawlings on butcher paper.

A diversity of interested parties emerged, all wanting to contribute to improving the trajectory of this beautiful little frog.

In February 2021, we held the first ‘Magnificent Broodfrog Working Group’ meeting, hosted by the North Queensland Natural History Group. This was attended by Traditional Owners, academics, Natural Resource Management groups, state, and federal government representatives, conservation organisations including Bush Heritage, scientists and interested community group members.

The meeting provided a chance to share knowledge and ideas on the priorities for the working group, build partnerships, map sensitive sites with Traditional Owners for care on surveys, and to draft an action plan for implementation by the team. 

There will be two critical priorities for the group over the next 24 months.

  1. To develop improved survey guidelines for adoption by the Queensland and Australian government. Surveys for this species are usually done on foot by listening for calling males to confirm presence/absence.  Recent bioacoustics studies have identified the frequency of calling behaviour, and this information is useful to identify the adequate number of foot surveys needed to confirm populations of the Broodfrog.
     
  2. To resurvey historical locations (most known sites were last surveyed more than a decade ago) to determine on-going persistence of populations – with data management help kindly provided through the Australian Museum and their great Frog ID app. This data will be used to provide expert advice to the Species Technical Committee (Qld), Threatened Species Scientific Committee (EPBC) and IUCN to guide future listings of the species.
The team has begun field surveys this wet season and hope to locate the species on Yourka Reserve during upcoming surveys!

This would provide a safe place for populations and enable us to longer-term lead recovery planning for this truly magnificent little amphibian species.

The Magnificent Broodfrog. Photo by Michael Anthony. The Magnificent Broodfrog. Photo by Michael Anthony.
Jirrbal elder Anthony Bean Snr pictured with material used to collect scent from frogs for detection dog trials collected on a recent field survey. Photo by Carly Starr. Jirrbal elder Anthony Bean Snr pictured with material used to collect scent from frogs for detection dog trials collected on a recent field survey. Photo by Carly Starr.
Bush Heritage ecologist Carly Starr carefully collecting scent from a Magnificent Broodfrog for use in detection dog trials. Photo by Leanne Hales. Bush Heritage ecologist Carly Starr carefully collecting scent from a Magnificent Broodfrog for use in detection dog trials. Photo by Leanne Hales.
Field survey by members of the working group. Photo by Carly Starr. Field survey by members of the working group. Photo by Carly Starr.
Inspecting habitat for frogs during a recent field trip. Photo by Carly Starr. Inspecting habitat for frogs during a recent field trip. Photo by Carly Starr.
Setting up Bioacoustic recorders in historic frog sites with Kael Starr, one of the younger members of the team. Photo by Carly Starr. Setting up Bioacoustic recorders in historic frog sites with Kael Starr, one of the younger members of the team. Photo by Carly Starr.
Carly Starr sets Bioacoustic recorders at historic sites to determine Broodfrog persistence a decade from their first sightings. Photo by Susan Adamczyk. Carly Starr sets Bioacoustic recorders at historic sites to determine Broodfrog persistence a decade from their first sightings. Photo by Susan Adamczyk.
The gorgeous colours of the Magnificent Broodfrog. Photo by Michael Anthony. The gorgeous colours of the Magnificent Broodfrog. Photo by Michael Anthony.

Stories from Yourka

BLOG 05/04/2023

Subterranean science on Yourka Reserve 

On Yourka Reserve, far north Queensland, a group of scientists were trawling through the dirt, looking for fungi in 2019. What they found has been confirmed as a new species in the Austroboletus genus.

Read More

BLOG 08/02/2023

Fighting fire in the dry

A recent wildfire on Yourka Reserve has revealed the benefits of best practice controlled burning in tropical north Queensland.

Read More
Grasstrees on Yourka Reserve. Photo Scott van Barneveld

BUSHTRACKS 13/01/2023

Call of the woodlands

Sound could hold the solution, according to Bush Heritage eco-acoustic researchers on a mission to save Australia’s birdlife.

Read More

BLOG 01/09/2022

Platypus spotted on Yourka Reserve!

We recently found a Platypus in Cameron creek - the first record of the species on Yourka Reserve. It's a sign of good river health and hopefully, there are more sightings to come.

Read More
Paul Hales conducting a controlled burn. Photo Martin Willis.

BUSHTRACKS 14/06/2022

The art of burning in the rain

How aerial, controlled burning is utilising climatic conditions at Yourka Reserve on Jirrbal and Warrungu country in Queensland.

Read More

BLOG 21/02/2022

What has all this rain meant for our fire team?

The 2021/22 La Nina has brought significant rainfall to the eastern seaboard of Australia, while the west has seen below average conditions. Here are some weather highlights from the first few months.

Read More

BLOG 29/03/2021

Most Magnificent Broodfrog you’ve never heard of

A newly formed working group in north Queensland could spell good news for the beautiful Magnificent Broodfrog. ‘Magnificent’ is certainly a great descriptor for this little frog, which only grows to a mere 28 mm - about the length of the end of your thumb. Its vividly coloured body exhibits flickering and swirls of orange, blue, brown, and bright yellow, with a strikingly marbled black and white belly.

Read More
Leanne and Paul Hales at Yourka Reserve.

11/02/2021

Yourka Bush Chat

In this 50-minute webinar, Paul and Leanne Hales (Healthy Landscape Manager and Volunteer Coordinator) share their stories with you direct from beautiful Yourka Reserve lookout.

Read More

BLOG 12/11/2020

Koala found on Yourka Reserve

Yourka Reserve is on the northernmost edge of the iconic Koala’s distribution, but we’ve never recorded a species confirmation… until we followed a late-night growl! After a spotlighting run at our Yourka Reserve in far north Queensland last month, some volunteers from Conservation Wildlife Management (CWN) reported hearing a distinctive call that they thought sounded like a Koala.

Read More

BLOG 26/08/2020

Siaming solo in 2020?

Annual 'siaming' at Yourka Reserve took on a whole new look in 2020. This year, for the first time in 11 years, we faced the daunting prospect of siaming solo. With travel restrictions in place to prevent the spread of covid-19, it was impossible to recruit a team of volunteers to help with the annual survey and treatment.

Read More

BUSHTRACKS 12/06/2020

Six months on

Silver linings shine as Bush Heritage’s Yourka Reserve in far north Queensland regenerates following a significant bushfire last year.

Read More

BUSHTRACKS 13/04/2020

My happy place (Leanne Hales)

My favourite part of Yourka Reserve is not actually a place, it’s a colour. Somewhere between blue, green, grey and silver is a shade I call Themeda Green.

Read More

BLOG 26/03/2020

Bouncing back at Yourka

Recent camera trapping at Yourka Reserve confirmed that the residents of Tiger Hill are bouncing back after Summer wildfires.

Read More

BLOG 31/01/2020

Bushfires update

As we enter a new month, I would like to take a moment to update you on recent developments towards our post-bushfire recovery. The devastation wrought has been confronting. My heart remains with those affected, those still fighting fires and those on the ground beginning the long process of recovery.

Read More

BLOG 19/12/2019

Feral fish & fencing at Yourka

I have a personal interest in fish and wetlands. Yourka has beautiful Eastern Rainbowfish, Purple Spotted Gudgeons, and Spangled Perch throughout its waterways, as well as Flyspecked Hardyheads, Olive Perchlets,  Midgley's Carp Gudgeons, Sooty Granters, Hyrtl's Tandan and probably others in some locations.

Read More

BLOG 17/12/2019

Adapting to 'black swan' fire events

Some thoughts on the Australian fire crisis and an update on Bush Heritage's fire control efforts by Richard Geddes, Bush Heritage Australia's National Fire Program Manager

Read More

BLOG 29/01/2019

Yourka detective work

What mammal is that? In partnership with WWF, Terry Mahney set up 40 camera traps on Yourka Reserve for 50 nights to survey for endangered species and got 150,000 shots!

Read More

BLOG 25/09/2018

Tea Tree Orchid flowers through the dry

Even at the driest time of year, there are species that thrive - perfectly adapted to their environments and the harsh conditions. The Tea Tree Orchid, found in the paperpark stands of Yourka Reserve, chooses this time of year to flower and is a fragrant and vibrant feature in the greying, dry-season landscape.

Read More

BLOG 15/03/2018

Wet season flooding in the north

This year the Wet season has been late to arrive but it's making up for lost time in northern Queensland. With daily rainfall totals exceeding 10 inches for four days straight, the creeks and billabongs of the Upper Herbert River catchment have surged across the landscape and turned the Yourka shed into a island.

Read More

BLOG 19/02/2018

Fairytale fungi at Yourka Reserve

The wet season in far north Queensland is the perfect time to go searching for fungi and the Hales kids from Yourka Reserve are keen to share their latest, exciting find.

Read More

BLOG 21/12/2017

Lessons from a bush classroom

Tassie-based volunteer, Kim Eastman certainly has a beautiful way with words. Last year her blog post about 'Grandparenting at Goonderoo' garnered comments and compliments from so many supporters and readers who share the value of a 'bush education' for our future generations.

Read More

BUSHTRACKS 07/12/2017

Dealing with the devil

A long-term control program on Yourka Reserve is saving native animals and plants in Queensland from one of the world’s worst invasive weeds.

Read More

BLOG 09/11/2017

Fauna trapping at Yourka

After a successful field trip back in September, three environmental science students from James Cook Uni returned to help with Spring fauna trapping at Yourka Reserve. The students helped set and check pitfall, funnel, cage and Elliot traps over four consecutive trapping nights, and also conducted spotlighting transects after dark.

Read More

BUSHTRACKS 04/10/2017

The gliders of Yourka

Australia’s blink-and-you-miss-it marsupial is the latest glider confirmed on Yourka Reserve, in far north Queensland. Is it a possum? A mouse? What is it?

Read More

BLOG 22/08/2017

The day the house arrived

Thursday 17th August was a monumental day for Yourka Reserve. It was the day that the much anticipated staff housing arrived. Three trucks, a crane and a house (in two pieces) arrived. Watching the arrival of the Yourka house was a little boy's dream come true and 7-year-old Seeley Hales was front and centre from the second it left the bitumen near Innot Hot Springs to the moment it pulled on to the reserve five hours later.

Read More

BLOG 01/06/2017

When geckos attack

Thirteen new fauna species were added to the Yourka species list thanks to a week of survey work in late May. The additions included four mammals, five amphibians and four reptiles, including this feisty little gecko, who likes to punch well above his weight.

Read More

BLOG 22/05/2017

Feathertail gliders confirmed at Yourka

Spotlighting again this week at Yourka and we're thrilled to announce there has been another addition to the species list - weighing just 10g-15g and floating over 20m between trees, it's the Feathertail Glider!

Read More

BLOG 15/05/2017

Night watch at Yourka Reserve

Reserve Manager Paul Hales has made the most of mild conditions and an extra pair of hands (Dr Steve Murphy) to conduct edge burning at Yourka Reserve. The night fire-line patrols were the perfect chance to spotlight for both native and feral species. Freshly burnt country draws predators such as cats, dingoes and owls and reserve staff don't miss the chance for opportunistic feral animal control or additions to the species list.

Read More

BLOG 18/10/2016

(Little) man on a mission

The billabongs of Sunday Creek valley are a well-known feature of Yourka Reserve in far north Queensland, so when our friends from the Australian and New Guinea Fishes Association (ANGFA) recently told us that there were feral fish present in the one below the Yourka shed we were a bit disappointed.

Read More

BLOG 01/10/2016

Bowerbird caught in the act

According to the Field Guide to Australian Birds, the male Great Bowerbird is a sedentary fella who prefers to adorn his twin-walled bower with bleached bones and shells. But at Yourka Reserve, we know differently.

Read More

BLOG 05/03/2016

Conservation dogs at work on Yourka

Australia Day 2016 saw six keen CWM members and two scent dogs in training arrive at Yourka, for what is hopefully the first of many trips in an ongoing working relationship. New volunteers on two and four legs are going to help us step up feral animal control projects in the North.

Read More

BLOG 07/07/2015

Recognition as a Nature Refuge Area

One year since its declaration as a Nature Refuge Area, Bush Heritage Australia's Yourka Reserve has completed all NatureAssist-funded projects on the property, significantly boosting the Reserve's conservation capabilities and allowing Yourka to continue on a trajectory of sustainable land management independent of project funding.

Read More
Loading...
{{itemsInCart}} Items - {{formatCurrency(grandTotal)}}