Breeding behaviour of the Barred Frog Mixophyes coggeri

Abstract

A recent analysis of specimens assigned to the Northern Barred Frog Mixophyes schevilli Loveridge, 1933 of the Wet Tropics region of north-east Queensland revealed three genetically and morphorogically distinct species (Mahony et al. 2006) . Mixophyes schevilli was retained as a species distributed in the northern and central Wet Tropics, M. coggeri Mahony, Donneilan, Richards & McDonard, 2006 was described as a species restricted to the carbine and windsor Tablelands (Mahony et al.2006). All three species are large, terrestrial, rainforest- restricted stream breeders. Importantly, tne calls and breeding biology of the three species have not been described, and differences in habitat preferences and other ecological aspects have not been resolved. Here I present the advertisement (mating) call of M' coggeri and an observation of the breeding behaviour of this species. The call is a deep, reverberating 'worg' and the primary call parameters are presented. The breeding behaviour is described in detail and is characterised by the female flicking fertilised eggs up onto rocks and the bank overhanging a side_pool in the stream. The calls and breeding biology of the other two wet tropics Mixophyes species remains unresolved.