hear call (751.2K MP3 file)
	hear call (5520.2K WAV file)

[call details here]

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Australia

	View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
	View Bd and Bsal data (1 records).

Known from the north-western Kimberley region of Western, northern Northern Territory and into Cape York Peninsula of Queensland. Also known from the Townsville region in Queensland. The extent of occurrence of the species is approximately 772300 km2

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Found in sparsely timbered savanna, sclerophyll woodland and grassland on clay soils. Spends most of its life buried underground and emerges only after heavy rain when it can be found on low-lying swampy ground which remains saturated after rain. Breeds after heavy rains in shallow flooded areas. Males call whilst floating in water and their bodies are inflated with air from their distended lungs. About 500 – 1400 eggs are laid in long chains tangled in submerged vegetation. Tadpoles hatch and complete development in 8 weeks.

Trends and Threats
No known declines and extent of occurrence > 20,000km2.

Threats
None known.

Conservation Measures
None in place.

References

Barker, J., Grigg, G. C., and Tyler, M. J. (1995). A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty and Sons, New South Wales.

Cogger, H.G. (1992). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed Books, New South Wales.

Tyler, M.J., Smith, L.A., and Johnstone, R.E. (1994). Frogs of Western Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2008 Notaden melanoscaphus: Northern Spadefoot Toad <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/3537> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Apr 16, 2024.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 16 Apr 2024.

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