Moaning FrogScientific name: Heleioporus eyrei
Meaning of name: Heleioporus is probably from the Greek helios, meaning sun, and poros, meaning holes, referring to the pattern on the back of the first named species, Heleioporus albopunctatus. Eyrei honours Edward John Eyre who was the first white person to walk across the Nullarbor Plain in 1841.
Distribution: Coastal and near coastal areas from Irwin River to Cape Arid.
Description: Back brown to dark grey with irregular patches of yellow. Up to 66 millimetres long.
Notes: The call is a long and rising low moan. Clutches of eggs are laid at the end of a burrow dug into the sand.
References: Frogs of Western Australia. MJ Tyler, LA Smith, RE Johnstone. 1994
Reptiles and Frogs of the Perth Region. Brian Bush, Brad Maryan, Robert Browne-Cooper, David Robinson. 1995
Field Guide to the Frogs of Western Australia. MJ Tyler, P Doughty. 2009
Hear the call at the WA Museum http://museum.wa.gov.au/explore/frogwatch/frogs/moaning-frog
Moaning Frogs are nocturnal.
The yellow patch behind the eye varies in size and intensity of colour.
There were many Moaning Frogs out during a night stalk even though it was hot - over 35C.
This individual has the yellow markings extending across its back.
This frog is at the entrance to its burrow.
