A rare encounter

This is a Waterfall Frog, Litoria nannotis, one of several species of frogs from upper rainforest streams that has suffered serious population declines over the last 20 years. One of the factors involved in the decline of these species is Chytrid Fungus.

This species lives in rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests near waterfalls and cascades. They will often sit upon boulders beside or behind waterfalls. I spotted this particular frog's eye shine with my head-torch. It was sitting beside water cascading down a large rock face. Females deposit their eggs under rocks in the stream bed, and their algae-eating tadpoles are well adapted to swimming in strong currents.

Litoria nannotis, the endangered Waterfall Frog