Two new distinct frog species have been discovered in North Queensland
the new research discovered they were in fact three distinct species
with the Eungella Whirring Treefrog found on the top of the Eungella plateau
and the Atherton Tablelands Whirring Treefrog found in the mountains south-west of Cairns
morphology and frog calls to recognise them as distinct species
JCU Associate Professor Conrad Hoskin said it’s an exciting discovery that could be crucial to the species’ protection
“When they were all grouped together as one
you can’t see the significance of the fact that that the two northern populations are distinct species,” he said
and that means you don't recognise that Eungella and the Wet Tropics each have yet another highly localised species
you don't recognise them for conservation when they are contained within another species name
we can assess their conservation status and needs
“Both species should be recognised as endangered species
has a tiny distribution with very little elevational space and is certainly under threat.”
with flashy orange markings and black spots on their legs
Populations of these treefrogs were previously assumed to represent a more widespread species in south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales
Assoc Prof Hoskin said now the new species have been named and recognised
the next step is to put in submissions to the state and federal governments outlining why they should be considered endangered species
“These beautiful frog species are now pinned to the tops of some of Queensland’s highest mountain areas and are under serious threat from climate change,” he said
we suggest that the Atherton Tablelands species should be nominated for Endangered and the Eungella even a higher level
“It's really exciting to recognise them for what they are
and conservation attention will hopefully follow.”
JCU websites use cookies to enhance user experience
Cosmos » Animals
Australian scientists have identified 2 new species of whirring tree frogs in northern Queensland
which are already being pushed to the limits of their habitable ranges by the impacts of climate change
emeritus professor at the University of Newcastle and co-author of a study describing the new species
“the frogs are literally running out of space.”
“The mantra of ‘adapt or perish’ doesn’t equally apply across species,” says Mahony
with climate models predicting warmer and drier conditions
the 3 distinct populations of whirring tree frogs were thought to be one species
with yellow-brown bodies and red patches behind their legs
But genetic analysis and subtle differences in their mating calls confirmed the species have been evolving separately for at least 1.2 million years
who undertook the research as an honours student at the University of Newcastle
proposes that “…[whirring tree frogs] must once have occupied wet forest habitats that were interconnected along the Great Dividing Range from north-eastern NSW to the Atherton Tablelands at a time of cooler and moister climate than we experience at present.”
as they became geographically isolated from each other over time
the Eungella whirring treefrog (Litoria eungellensis) is found in just 20km2 in the cool mountan temperature forest of Queensland’s Eungella Range
The Atherton Tablelands whirring treefrog (Litoria corbeni) lives nearly 800km away in the high-altitude rainforests of south-west of Cairns
found in New South Wales and southeastern Queensland
“The Eungella Whirring Frog now holds the unenviable title of one of Australia’s top 10 frogs with the smallest natural range,” says Price
“The species is restricted to an isolated patch of high elevation cool rainforest habitat [suggesting] that it is already living at its biological limits
and with climate warming the species has nowhere to expand or migrate.”
“Species confined to such tiny areas face immense risks – from wildfires to pollution events
One catastrophic event could wipe them out entirely.”
The research appears in the journal Zootaxa