Eungella torrent frog

The Eungella torrent frog is a small, stream-dwelling amphibian native to Australia, specifically found in mid-eastern Queensland, west of Mackay. These frogs are slender with long limbs, growing up to approximately 35mm in length. Their coloration ranges from yellowish-tan to dark brown, featuring a distinctive X-shaped marking on their backs.

Typically, you can find these frogs in montane rainforests and open forests near flowing creeks. When threatened, they swiftly retreat into the water to seek refuge. Breeding occurs year-round, with males producing a gentle tinkling sound to attract mates. The females lay their eggs in clumps that adhere to submerged rocks or logs. Remarkably, the Eungella torrent frog exhibits unique courtship behavior involving body and limb movements to signal mating interest.

In the 1980s, this species experienced a significant decline and disappeared entirely between 1987 and 1992, likely due to the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Fortunately, they have since been rediscovered at nine different sites, indicating signs of recovery, although they have not yet reached their previous population numbers. The Eungella torrent frog stands as the only known Australian frog species to have vanished and subsequently reappeared.

Despite their resurgence, they are still classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and Endangered under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992 due to their vulnerable status.