Fauna
Amphibian

Wallum Froglet

Crinia tinnula

Also known as Tinkling Froglet

Wallum froglets are tiny, ground-dwelling amphibians specially adapted to thrive in highly acidic, nutrient-poor coastal peatlands and paperbark swamps. Males betray their presence during or after rains with a high-pitched, metallic chiming call that rings out from dense sedge tussocks like a tiny bell. Habitat destruction and drainage across east-coast heathlands have sharply curtailed their specialized swamp environments, making them a key indicator of pristine coastal wetland health.

Acid SpecialistVocal
Wallum Froglet reference
Tnarg 12345 at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySpringtails, Tiny ants, Small dipteran flies
Predators
  • Red-bellied Black Snake
  • White-faced Heron
  • Carnivorous beetle larvae
ThreatsUrban development, altered groundwater hydrology, peat fires, pine forestry
HabitatsWallum heathland, acidic paperbark swamps, coastal sedgelands
Life span3–6 years
Classification
  1. FamilyMyobatrachidae
  2. SpeciesCrinia tinnula
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Look for a minuscule mottled brown frog with a pale ventral surface and a distinct bell-like call.
Support conservation
Do not capture or handle wild individuals, and avoid disturbing sensitive swamp edge vegetation.
Responsible observation
  • Listening: Locate calling males by their distinctive, sharp metallic tink repeated every few seconds.
  • Footwear Hygiene: Disinfect boots before visiting coastal bogs to prevent spreading chytrid fungus.
  • Boardwalk Etiquette: Stick to designated platforms to avoid crushing delicate peat mats and breeding pools.
Related species
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