Bikies Revving Up!
Motorbike Frogs breed from spring and well into summer each year, and so a few tadpoles could soon be swimming about in Perth ponds.
The Motorbike Frog is the most commonly seen frog in south-western Australia, particularly in Perth suburban gardens. Backyard Buddies wants you to know that it’s easy to be a buddy to Motorbike Frogs, with some simple tips.
Backyard Buddies is a free program run by Australia’s Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. Each month, you get a Backyard Buddies email (B-mail) with tips to make your backyard inviting and safe for native animals. Motorbike Frogs featured in February B-mail. Sign up for B-mail at www.backyardbuddies.net.au.
“The Motorbike Frog has a fantastic call. It sounds like a motorbike gaining speed and changing gears,” said Mr Steve Corbett, CEO of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. “It also makes low, warbling growls and is thoroughly entertaining to listen to.”
“Frogs are great to have around your garden and local area as they eat insects and spiders for you. Frogs absorb moisture through their skin, so if there are any harmful chemicals in the waterways, they can be adversely affected. The presence of frogs is an indicator that the environment is healthy.”
Tips for encouraging Motorbike Frogs
- Don’t touch wild frogs as this raises the risk of spreading disease amongst frog populations.
- If you have tadpoles in your local pond, let them find their own food. Many can become sick or die if fed fish food.
- Place a branch or a bit of rope at the edge of your swimming pool or pond so that frogs can get out of the water easily.
- Avoid using pesticides or chemicals in your garden as they could run into water used by frogs.
- Build a frog pond – find out more at www.backyardbuddies.net.au/PDFs/Pond.pdf
- Keep your ponds free of exotic fish like goldfish, Gambusia and other species as they eat frogs’ eggs and tadpoles.
- Put out a solar powered night light – this will attract insects that frogs love to eat.
- Keep your cat or dog away from known frog areas.
- Leave tadpoles where you find them – it’s illegal to remove them.
- Plant local native shrubs and trees and place rocks around your garden pond.
Fast Facts about Motorbike Frogs
- Motorbike Frogs are green with gold mottling (after a good dose of sunshine). They can be dark brown in colder conditions. They have a dark stripe from the snout to the forearm.
- Motorbike Frogs and tadpoles need to sunbathe for an hour or two each day for healthy growth.
- The Motorbike Frog is also known as a Bell Frog, Moore’s Frog, or Western Green and Golden Bell Frog. It’s scientific name is Litoria moorei.
- The Motorbike Frog lives from the Murchison River southeast to Pallinup River. It is also found on Rottnest Island.
- Motorbike Frog tadpoles are translucent yellow with darker patches, and they become darker as they develop. The tadpoles mainly eat algae.
“Tadpoles of the Motorbike Frog grow to around 8 cm long and usually change into froglets from the end of summer to around April. Tadpoles in deep, cool ponds can take longer to develop—they might grow up to 14 cm long but take 14 months to emerge as a froglet.”
“Look out for Motorbike Frogs near permanent freshwater ponds, swamps, streams, lagoons and dams with lots of plants. They often hide beneath bark, logs or other large objects,” said Mr Corbett.
“Once a female Motorbike Frog reaches about 2 or 3-years-old, she can lay more than 1,000 eggs per year. Clumps of frog eggs, or spawn, are laid as a large floating mass on the water’s surface or just under, attached to vegetation.”
“Like other amphibians, the Motorbike Frog divides its time between the water and the land. You might see it on the ground quite a considerable distance away from wet breeding sites, as it is quite at home on the land. It’s also a great climber. You might see it amongst rocks, or up in low branches of trees or shrubs,” Mr Corbett said.
“Enjoy Motorbike Frogs around your place,” said Mr Corbett. “They’re interesting creatures, quite ribbetting.
Share your photos of frogs and other native animals on www.facebook.com/backyardbuddies.
