

Turtle Frog
Scientific name: Myobatrachus gouldii
Myobatrachus is from the words myo, meaning muscle, and batrachian, referring to frog. Gouldii honours John Gould who was a famous ornithologist and artist.
Southwest region and adjacent arid zone from Kalbarri National Park in the north, south and east to Morowa, Quairading, Southern Cross and Grass Patch.
A flattened frog with a very small head, tiny eyes and short but muscular limbs. It varies in colour from yellow-pink to dull slate to dark brown. Males are up to 42 millimetres long, females to 51 millimetres.
The call is a series of deep croaks. Males call from September to February. Clutches of large eggs are laid 0.5 – 1.5 metres underground. The hatchlings are miniature adults (not tadpoles) and have the ability to burrow. This frog mainly eats termites but has been known to eat other invertebrates.
Why are there no photographs for this frog?
Frogs are primarily identified by their call. Finding the frog making the call can be very difficult. This frog has only been seen once but no camera was available at the time. Photographs will be added when we find another frog.
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/turtle-frog
Atlas of Living Australia https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/07580bcc-736a-4003-a226-68c17f062617