Armoured frog

The armoured frog, also known as the armoured mist frog, is a distinctive tree frog species native to northeastern Queensland, Australia. As part of the torrent frog complex, this small frog can reach up to 37 mm in length. It is characterized by its unique appearance, featuring a grey or grey-brown dorsal side and a white ventral side. The skin is notably bumpy, particularly around the eyelids and ears, and the frog has half-webbed fingers and fully webbed toes equipped with well-developed discs. Male armoured frogs possess specialized black, spiny pads on their thumbs and chests, which they use during mating.

First documented in 1976, the armoured frog is known from just four locations in northeastern Queensland. It inhabits fast-flowing creeks and streams within rainforests. Unfortunately, the species experienced a dramatic decline and was not observed from 1991 until 2008, when a small population was rediscovered. The call of the armoured frog remains unknown, but scientists speculate it might be similar to that of the closely related waterfall frog. While the tadpoles of the armoured frog have not been described yet, they are presumed to resemble those of the waterfall frog.

The armoured frog, along with other species like Taudactylus rheophilus and Litoria nannotis, has suffered declines in highland rainforest creeks. Potential factors include the chytrid fungus, although the rediscovered population appears to exhibit some resistance to it. The armoured frog is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and as Endangered under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act 1992.