Kuranda Tree Frog (Spicicalyx myola)

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Critically endangered.

Breeding season

Kuranda Tree Frogs breed at rainforest streams during the wetter spring to summer period, with eggs, tadpoles and metamorphs present from about October to April. Adults use rainforest vegetation throughout the year, so clearing should avoid stream and connected forest habitat whenever practicable.

Reproductive mode: Oviparous, with a larval tadpole stage.

Clutch size: About 509 eggs.

Incubation: Not recorded.

Size at hatching or birth: Hatchling length about 2 mm.

Age at maturity: Not recorded.

Nest or egg sites: Eggs are laid as a cluster attached under rocks at the bottom of streams.

Breeding frequency: One reported clutch per year.

Confirm timing locally before clearing, because calling and breeding may respond to local rainfall and temperature, especially within the wet season.

• Calling: Calling has been recorded in January to June and August to December, with January listed as the peak month. The calling record is described as possible, so confirm activity locally before works.
• Egg laying: Egg laying occurs during spring and summer in the wet season, approximately October to March. Egg clusters are attached under rocks at the bottom of streams.
• Tadpoles: Tadpoles remain in streams for about two months, so they may occur from October to April following the reported breeding period. Development timing is not confirmed by month, and tadpoles may remain at the bottom of water bodies.
• Metamorphs: Newly metamorphosed frogs have been observed on streamside vegetation. The monthly timing of metamorphosis is not recorded, but metamorphs may follow the October to March breeding period and the approximately two-month larval period.
• Active period: No species-specific activity season is recorded. As a rainforest frog associated with streams, treat adults as potentially active and moving throughout the year, particularly near suitable streamside vegetation.
• Highest clearing risk: Risk is highest from October to April, when breeding, eggs, tadpoles and metamorphs may overlap. Adults also shelter in middle and upper rainforest strata throughout the year, so clearing outside this period can still remove habitat; January may carry the greatest calling-related risk.

Identification

This is a medium-sized stream and rainforest tree frog with variable brown, tan or grey dorsal colouration. Identification in the field should combine appearance, calling location and habitat, because it resembles the coexisting Green-Eyed Tree Frog.

The back may be brown, tan, mottled grey, blotched brown, or blotched green and brown. Some individuals have an hourglass-shaped pattern, pale shoulders, a pale lower back and pale forehead. Dark, uneven bars may occur on the hindlimbs.

The underside is white to cream. The chin and throat may have light speckling, and brown mottling may occur on the groin, thighs, lower hindlimbs and feet. A green crescent is visible above the eye, and the iris may be cream to grey with fine brown veins.

Maximum recorded snout to vent length: 45.2 mm

Body mass: Not reported in the supplied sources

Identification: Sexes and similar species

Females are typically about 1.6 times the male snout to vent length and about 4.5 times the male body weight. The sexes are not separated reliably by colour or other described external features.

The green crescent above the eye and fringed forearms and legs resemble the Green-Eyed Tree Frog. Confirmation should therefore consider the call, location and stream habitat, not appearance alone.

• Treat a brown or mottled tree frog near a slow stream in the Kuranda area as a possible Kuranda Tree Frog until an experienced herpetologist confirms otherwise.
• Record photographs of the back, underside, eye region, limbs and toe discs where handling is authorised.
• Do not rely on body size alone because females are substantially larger than males.

Identification: Calls and field signs

Males call beside streams, mainly near riffles and small cascades, and are rarely encountered away from streams. Calling males may perch in vegetation about 0.30 to 1.5 m above the ground.

The mating call is short and fast, with a reported duration of 0.85 seconds, about 8.8 notes per second and a frequency of 1.79 kHz. Males also produce warning calls and may wrestle with nearby calling males.

There are no reported species-specific records of tracks, scats, nests, sloughs or eyeshine. Eggs are laid in association with stream breeding, and larvae remain in streams for about two months.

• Listen along riffles, cascades and shallow flowing sections, particularly during spring and summer.
• Use call recordings and sonograms where possible, then confirm records with habitat observations and photographs.

Distribution: Australian range

The species is endemic to a small area of Far North Queensland. Its known range is centred on tributaries and creeks flowing to the Barron River around Kuranda, Myola, Kowrowa and Oak Forest.

The Kuranda Tree Frog is known only from Queensland. The documented range is in the Wet Tropics around Kuranda and adjacent localities, within the Barron River catchment.

Known sites occur at approximately 300 to 400 m elevation. AmphibiaWeb reports records from small sections of 13 streams draining to the Barron River, at about 320 to 360 m.

State: Queensland only

Named localities: Kuranda, Myola, Kowrowa and Oak Forest

Known stream sections: 13

Known elevation range: Approximately 300 to 400 m

Distribution: Subpopulations and trend

The supplied sources do not provide a total population estimate, density estimate or confirmed number of viable subpopulations. The known populations are distributed among small stream sections draining to the Barron River.

The population trend is reported as decreasing. Much of the former forested range has been cleared and regenerated forest now makes up much of the remaining range.

Population size: Not reported in the supplied sources

Population trend: Decreasing

Generation length: Estimated at 3.5 years

• Treat every occupied stream and its connected riparian and upland forest as significant because the known range is small.
• Map calling males, breeding streams, streamside vegetation and forest connections separately during project surveys.

Habitat: Stream habitat

The species uses both rainforest streams and forest away from streams. It appears to need thick riparian forest, not just a narrow strip beside the water.

Known streams are small to moderate-sized, meandering streams with low flow except after heavy rain. They contain long, slow pools separated by short, shallow riffles or cascades.

Males are concentrated near the shallow flowing sections, riffles and small cascades. The species has been recorded in relatively mature rainforest and regenerating rainforest.

• Inspect slow pools, shallow riffles, cascades, stream margins and nearby vegetation.
• Record flow conditions, pool and riffle structure, bank vegetation and recent disturbance during each survey.

Habitat: Forest structure and climate limits

The species is associated with rainforest in the Wet Tropics and sites that are generally sheltered and experience little wind. It appears to require reasonably thick riparian forest and is generally absent where only narrow strips of riparian forest remain.

Known sites occur at approximately 300 to 400 m elevation. The supplied sources do not define a precise upper or lower climatic limit.

Known elevation: Approximately 300 to 400 m

Habitat type: Rainforest near slow-moving permanent and ephemeral streams

Key structural feature: Thick riparian forest

• Retain streamside rainforest and connected forest beyond the immediate channel.
• Avoid treating a narrow retained riparian strip as equivalent to intact habitat.
• Assess both mature and regenerating rainforest, because both have supported records.

Foraging habitat: Diet and feeding areas

The species is arboreal, but its diet and foraging behaviour have not been documented directly. Survey and impact assessments should therefore protect the forest structure used by adults rather than focusing only on the stream channel.

The feeding habits of adults and larvae are unknown. Closely related species eat invertebrates, including insects and other arthropods.

Adults are associated with rainforest trees and vegetation. Females have been observed in the middle and upper forest strata both near and away from streams, suggesting that foraging habitat extends into connected rainforest.

Adult diet: Unknown; related species eat insects and other arthropods

Larval diet: Unknown

Recorded foraging or living strata: Middle and upper rainforest strata

Foraging range: Not quantified

• Retain native rainforest vegetation around streams and in connected forest because specific food plants and foraging ranges have not been identified.
• Avoid assuming that an absence of calling frogs means the surrounding forest is unused.
• Record likely feeding vegetation, canopy continuity and insect-rich moist habitat as part of habitat assessment, without assigning a species-specific diet that has not been demonstrated.

Breeding habitat: Breeding sites

Breeding is concentrated in spring and summer at small rainforest streams. Males gather near shallow flowing water and call to attract females.

Males call along streams, mainly around riffles and small cascades. Females are rarely encountered and have been found visiting streams to breed.

The breeding streams are meandering, with long slow pools separated by short shallow riffles or cascades. Thick riparian forest appears to be required around the stream.

• Search and listen at riffles, cascades, shallow flowing sections and streamside vegetation during the breeding season.
• Protect stream flow, pool and riffle structure, shaded banks and riparian forest during works.
• Treat streamside vegetation and connected rainforest as breeding habitat even when eggs or tadpoles are not detected.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

Breeding season: Spring and summer, approximately October to March

Breeding mode: Oviparous, with a larval tadpole stage

Clutch size: About 509 eggs

Clutches per year: One reported clutch per year

Amplexus: Axillary amplexus

Larval period: About two months to metamorphosis

Age at maturity: Not reported in the supplied sources

Lifespan: Not reported in the supplied sources

Generation length: Estimated at 3.5 years

Breeding habitat: Young frogs

Tadpoles live in streams for about two months. Newly metamorphosed frogs have been observed on streamside vegetation.

Sub-adults have very rarely been observed in streams, suggesting that they move into the forest to mature.

• Inspect streamside vegetation for metamorphs after the breeding period and after suitable rain.
• Include connected forest in searches for sub-adults because young frogs may leave the stream environment.

Sheltering habitat: Forest refuges

Adults use rainforest vegetation away from the stream as well as streamside vegetation. Specific shelter dimensions, refuge types and distances from streams have not been reported.

Females have been observed in the middle and upper strata of rainforest trees, both near and away from streams. This suggests that intact forest canopy and understorey provide shelter outside the breeding period.

Newly metamorphosed frogs have been found on streamside vegetation. Sub-adults are rarely seen in streams and are likely to use forest habitat while they mature.

Recorded adult shelter strata: Middle and upper rainforest strata

Known metamorph shelter: Streamside vegetation

Shelter dimensions: Not reported

Known den, hollow or burrow use: None reported

• Retain trees, understorey, leaf litter and moist vegetation along streams and through connected rainforest.
• Inspect vegetation from the ground to the mid and upper strata where safe and authorised.
• Do not limit fauna searches to the channel, banks or calling perches.

Threats: Clearing and fragmentation

The main documented risks are habitat loss and degradation, loss of thick riparian forest, invasive species, domestic animal predation, hybridisation and chytrid fungus. The species' small range makes local damage significant.

Clearing riparian rainforest is identified as pushing the species towards extinction. The species is generally absent where only narrow strips of riparian forest remain.

Clearing or isolating forest can remove breeding habitat, streamside vegetation and the connected forest used by adults and sub-adults.

• Avoid clearing occupied streams, thick riparian forest and connected rainforest.
• Map the full habitat unit, including forest away from the stream, rather than mapping only the watercourse.
• Prevent construction edges, access tracks and temporary work areas from narrowing or severing riparian forest.

Threats: Hydrology and water quality

Breeding streams have low flow except after heavy rain and contain a particular sequence of slow pools, riffles and cascades. Changes to flow, sediment movement or channel structure may reduce breeding suitability.

The supplied sources do not quantify tolerances to altered flow, sediment, pollutants or temperature.

• Maintain natural stream flow, pool and riffle structure during construction and operation.
• Prevent sediment, concrete washout, chemicals and other contaminants from entering breeding streams.
• Avoid creating conditions that remove shade or increase water heating in shallow stream sections.

Threats: Disease, predators and invasive species

Chytrid fungus is identified as a threat. Invasive species, invasive weeds, domestic animal predation and hybridisation are also reported threats.

Frogs are vulnerable to disease transfer through contaminated equipment, footwear and handling. Cane toads are a wider local amphibian management concern, although the supplied sources do not quantify their direct effect on this species.

• Apply current amphibian hygiene and decontamination procedures between sites and stream catchments.
• Keep domestic dogs and cats away from rainforest streams and retained habitat.
• Control invasive weeds without damaging riparian cover or contaminating streams.
• Do not move frogs, tadpoles, water, soil or aquatic material between streams.

Threats: Fire and roads

Fire and roads are not identified separately in the supplied species accounts. They can still affect the moist, sheltered stream and rainforest conditions on which this species depends, so project assessments should examine their likely effects on riparian cover, connectivity, runoff and stream structure.

The supplied sources do not provide species-specific fire intervals, road mortality rates or road crossing distances.

• Keep fire planning and hazard reduction from removing thick riparian forest or exposing breeding streams.
• Design roads and crossings to limit sediment delivery, altered drainage, barriers and loss of streamside vegetation.
• Use project-specific monitoring to test for frogs, calls, disease risk and habitat change before and after road or fire works.

Survey methodology: 1. Nocturnal stream searches

Survey for the Kuranda Tree Frog, *Spicicalyx myola*, formerly treated as *Litoria myola*, should focus on small rainforest streams and their connected riparian forest near the Barron River. The supplied documents do not provide a project survey guideline or validated detection probability, so survey design should be set by a suitably qualified amphibian ecologist and the relevant approval conditions.

Survey small to moderate-sized rainforest streams, tributaries and creeks with slow pools, shallow riffles or short cascades. Prioritise sites with thick riparian forest and sheltered conditions.

Search during the breeding period from October to March, particularly in the rainy summer months. Males call mainly in spring and summer and are concentrated near riffles and small cascades.

Conduct searches at night when males are calling. Search stream margins, shallow flowing sections, streamside vegetation and nearby rainforest vegetation using appropriate amphibian spotlighting and call detection methods.

Record the date, start and finish time, weather, recent rain, stream flow, searchers, route, distance searched and all frogs or calls detected. No prescribed number of nights, hours or transect length is provided in the supplied documents.

Breeding period: October to March, with breeding primarily in spring and summer

Known elevation: Approximately 300 to 400 metres, with AmphibiaWeb records at 320 to 360 metres above sea level

Known distribution: Small sections of 13 streams draining to the Barron River in rainforest habitat

Male calling locations: Mainly near riffles and small cascades

Survey methodology: 2. Call and visual detection

Listen for short, fast male calls along streams and check calling locations with a spotlight. Males may perch in vegetation 0.30 to 1.5 metres above the ground when attracting females.

Do not rely on stream searches alone. Females are rarely encountered, and some have been observed in the middle and upper rainforest strata away from streams. Search connected rainforest vegetation as well as the channel and bank.

Treat an unconfirmed call as a detection requiring an audio recording, precise location and expert verification where practicable. The supplied documents do not provide a call survey effort standard or a validated call description beyond the reported call measurements.

Mating call duration: Approximately 0.85 seconds

Mating call rate: Approximately 8.8 notes per second

Mating call frequency: Approximately 1.79 kilohertz

Calling perch height: Approximately 0.30 to 1.5 metres above ground

• Use clean equipment and footwear between sites, and follow the project hygiene procedure for amphibian disease control.
• Minimise handling during surveys and do not move frogs between watercourses.

Survey methodology: 3. Habitat and life-stage search

Map permanent and ephemeral streams, slow pools, riffles, cascades, streamside vegetation and the full width of retained riparian forest. The species has been recorded in mature and regenerating rainforest but is generally absent where only narrow riparian strips remain.

Search streamside vegetation for metamorphs and inspect connected rainforest habitat for sub-adults and adults. Tadpoles occupy streams for about two months, so include suitable aquatic habitat during the breeding season and the following larval period.

Document habitat condition, riparian width, canopy connection, stream flow, pool and riffle structure, recent clearing, weeds, domestic animal access and nearby barriers. These observations support impact assessment even when frogs are not detected.

• Record tadpole, metamorph and adult observations separately.
• Photograph habitat and diagnostic features only where this can be done without disturbing the animal or damaging streamside vegetation.
• Use the supplied occurrence information to target tributaries and creeks around Kuranda, Myola, Kowrowa and Oak Forest, while treating any suitable connected habitat as potentially occupied.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

• Do not describe a site as free of Kuranda Tree Frogs solely because a single search did not detect the species.
• Set the number of survey nights, search hours, transect lengths, repeat visits and seasonal coverage in a written method approved by the project ecologist and relevant regulator, because the supplied documents do not specify minimum effort.
• Survey in weather and stream conditions suitable for calling and activity, and document conditions that may reduce detectability.
• Submit confirmed records, negative survey results where required, photographs, call recordings, coordinates, survey effort and habitat descriptions to the relevant Queensland wildlife database or other database specified by the approval.
• Check current taxonomy when submitting records, and include *Spicicalyx myola* and the synonym *Litoria myola* where the database requires both names.
• Retain field sheets, spatial files, photographs, audio, chain-of-custody information and fauna handling records with the project environmental records.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise habitat loss

Avoidance is the primary control because the Kuranda Tree Frog is critically endangered and occupies a restricted group of streams and connected rainforest habitat. Plan the project around retaining stream habitat, thick riparian forest and movement routes between stream and forest.

Avoid clearing rainforest around permanent and ephemeral streams, especially small streams with slow pools, riffles or cascades.

Retain thick, continuous riparian forest rather than narrow strips. The species is generally absent where only narrow riparian forest strips remain.

Retain connected rainforest away from the stream because females may use the middle and upper forest strata and sub-adults may leave streams to mature.

Keep domestic animals, machinery, sediment, weeds and other disturbances out of retained stream and rainforest habitat.

Known stream setting: Small to moderate-sized streams with low flow, slow pools and short riffles or cascades

Known elevation: Approximately 300 to 400 metres

Conservation status: Critically endangered under the EPBC Act

• Map and fence the approved clearing boundary before works start.
• Include stream channels, banks, riparian vegetation, connected forest and access routes in the no-go area unless the approval expressly permits disturbance.
• Do not create isolated retained vegetation patches or corridors that terminate at cleared areas where a practicable connected design can be used.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and work planning

Check whether the proposed action may significantly affect this EPBC Act critically endangered species or its habitat, and obtain advice on referral and approval requirements before disturbance.

Check Queensland permits, wildlife authorities, animal ethics requirements and any local conditions for surveying, handling, capture, relocation and rehabilitation.

Schedule unavoidable stream and riparian disturbance outside the October to March breeding period where practicable, while recognising that frogs, tadpoles and other life stages may remain in habitat outside that period.

Stage works so that retained stream and forest habitat remains connected and protected while each work area is cleared.

• Prepare a species-specific fauna management plan covering survey effort, hygiene, stop-work triggers, handling authority, relocation sites, injured fauna, reporting and monitoring.
• Nominate the fauna spotter catcher, project ecologist, environmental officer, site supervisor and approval holder, with clear escalation contacts.
• Confirm that the proposed relocation site is nearby, retained, suitable rainforest and connected to an appropriate stream habitat before clearing begins.

Before habitat disturbance: Pre-clearance preparation

Complete the approved pre-clearance survey immediately before works, with night searches during the breeding period where the program permits and targeted inspection of stream and riparian habitat.

Mark stream channels, banks, riparian vegetation, slow pools, riffles, cascades, retained rainforest and any proposed relocation area on plans and in the field.

Install exclusion fencing or other physical controls where they can protect retained stream and forest habitat without diverting frogs into unsafe areas.

Brief all workers on the species appearance, call, habitat, hygiene requirements, no-go areas, reporting pathway and stop-work procedure.

• Inspect the work area each day before machinery enters it.
• Remove or control domestic animals from the work area and prevent access to retained habitat.
• Confirm that erosion, sediment, dewatering, lighting, noise and access controls are installed before ground disturbance begins.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and supervision

Disturbance must be supervised so that machinery does not enter retained stream or riparian habitat and any frog found is protected immediately. The fauna spotter catcher must work directly with the operator and stop the task when an animal or unexpected habitat risk is identified.

Inspect exclusion fencing, no-go markers, sediment controls, dewatering controls and access routes before each shift and after heavy rain.

Keep machinery, vehicles, spoil, fuels, concrete washout, sediment and waste out of streams, stream banks and retained rainforest.

Use a fauna spotter catcher during clearing and ground disturbance in or next to mapped habitat, with the authority to stop work.

Limit night lighting directed at streams and retained rainforest, and keep work within the approved footprint.

• Use amphibian hygiene procedures between watercourses and work areas to reduce disease transmission.
• Stop work if clearing extends beyond the approved boundary, if sediment enters a stream, or if controls fail and cannot be repaired immediately.
• Record daily weather, rainfall, stream conditions, work areas inspected, controls checked, fauna observations and incidents.

During habitat disturbance: Fauna spotter catcher and machinery interface

The fauna spotter catcher must inspect vegetation, ground cover, stream edges and any material before machinery moves it.

Require the operator to stop, isolate machinery and wait for direction whenever the spotter catcher identifies a frog, tadpole, metamorph, occupied habitat or an unplanned impact.

Use slow, staged clearing from the already disturbed edge towards retained habitat so that animals have an opportunity to move into safe retained vegetation, unless the approved fauna management plan specifies another method.

Do not allow untrained workers to capture, handle, transport or release a Kuranda Tree Frog.

• Keep the spotter catcher in direct visual or radio contact with the operator.
• Maintain a clear exclusion area around a detected animal until the authorised person has assessed it.
• Record the animal's location, life stage, condition, photographs, action taken and release location.

During habitat disturbance: Animal response and stop-work triggers

Stop work immediately if a Kuranda Tree Frog is found in the active work area, if tadpoles or metamorphs are found in water or streamside vegetation, or if clearing affects an occupied stream or riparian refuge not covered by the approved plan.

Only a person authorised under the relevant Queensland wildlife and project approvals may handle or relocate the frog.

Relocate a healthy animal only to nearby retained habitat that has been assessed as suitable and is connected to the affected stream and rainforest habitat. Record the exact release location and time.

Do not move frogs, tadpoles or water between catchments or watercourses unless the approved disease and relocation procedure specifically permits it.

Send an injured frog promptly to an approved wildlife carer or veterinarian, following the project animal welfare and reporting procedure.

• Treat any mortality, injury, unexpected breeding activity, tadpole concentration, chytrid concern, sediment discharge or unauthorised clearing as an incident requiring immediate notification under the project plan and approval.
• Suspend the relevant work until the fauna spotter catcher, project ecologist and environmental officer have assessed the risk and authorised recommencement.
• Do not wash, treat or release an amphibian unless directed by an appropriately authorised wildlife health professional.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance checks

Post-clearing work must confirm that no animals remain in the disturbed area, that retained habitat is still functional and that project controls have not failed. Monitoring should focus on the streams and riparian forest that support breeding, larval development and movement into rainforest.

Complete a fauna spotter catcher inspection of the cleared footprint, stream margins, spoil areas, machinery routes and retained habitat edges after each clearing stage.

Search streamside vegetation for metamorphs and inspect shallow flowing sections, pools, riffles and cascades for tadpoles where disturbance has occurred near water.

Check exclusion fencing, sediment controls, drainage, dewatering areas, lighting and access controls after rainfall and throughout the works.

Document all live animals, dead animals, injuries, relocations, habitat damage, control failures and corrective actions.

• Do not close an area as fauna-clear until the authorised fauna personnel have completed the checks required by the fauna management plan.
• Repair damaged fencing and controls immediately, and inspect for trapped or displaced frogs before recommencing work.
• Update the project map with cleared areas, retained habitat, detected animals and release locations.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and reporting

Monitor retained streams and riparian forest during the breeding period from October to March where required by the approval or fauna management plan.

Use repeat night call and visual surveys at affected streams, riffles, cascades and nearby retained forest, using the same locations and method where possible so results can be compared.

Report changes in stream flow, pool and riffle structure, riparian cover, sediment, weeds, domestic animal access and connectivity with each monitoring result.

Submit required records to the relevant Queensland wildlife database and provide the regulator with survey effort, detections, incidents, relocations, mortalities, rehabilitation results and corrective actions.

Breeding monitoring window: October to March

Larval period: Tadpoles live in streams for about two months

• Continue monitoring for the period specified in the approval, management plan or offset condition.
• Escalate declining detections, loss of riparian cover, stream degradation, disease signs or repeated mortalities to the project ecologist and approval holder.
• Retain raw call recordings, photographs, coordinates and field sheets with the final environmental report.

After habitat disturbance: Offsets and corrective action

Determine whether offsets, restoration or other compensatory measures are required under the EPBC approval, Queensland requirements or project conditions.

Prioritise corrective action that restores thick riparian forest, stream structure, water quality and connection to nearby rainforest.

Do not treat an offset as a substitute for avoiding or minimising clearing of occupied or suitable habitat.

• Record the area, condition and management status of any offset or restoration site.
• Set measurable actions and timeframes for weed control, erosion repair, riparian establishment, connectivity and monitoring.
• Review controls after each incident and amend the fauna management plan before the next clearing stage where required.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore stream and riparian habitat

Rehabilitation should recreate the combination of small rainforest streams, thick riparian forest and connected rainforest used by different life stages. The supplied documents do not identify particular plant species or a prescribed restoration density, so planting and monitoring prescriptions must be developed from local reference sites and approval requirements.

Reinstate a natural-looking stream profile with slow pools, shallow riffles and short cascades where the project has altered these features and approvals allow restoration.

Stabilise banks with locally appropriate native rainforest and riparian plants, and establish enough vegetation to restore thick cover rather than a narrow strip.

Reconnect streamside vegetation with retained rainforest so adults, females, sub-adults and metamorphs can move between aquatic and terrestrial habitat.

Use local reference streams near the project area to select plant species, structure and planting layout, because the supplied documents do not nominate species or planting densities.

• Prevent sediment, concrete, fuel, weeds and other pollutants from entering restored or retained streams.
• Keep restoration areas free from domestic animals and control invasive weeds that reduce riparian cover.
• Do not use plantings or structures that create an ecological trap or block movement between stream and forest.

Rehabilitation actions: Reinstate shelter and microhabitat

Retain and reinstate natural leaf litter, fallen branches, logs, rocks and dense streamside vegetation where these materials are locally present and can be placed without obstructing stream flow.

Use locally sourced materials that are free of soil, weeds and amphibian disease risk, and clean equipment before entering another watercourse.

Provide shaded, moist conditions around restored streams because tadpoles may be harmed if water heats up and the species is associated with sheltered rainforest streams.

• Do not install hollows, nest boxes or other structures as a substitute for the riparian forest and stream habitat required by this species.
• Inspect reinstated habitat after storms and repair erosion, washouts or displaced materials.
• Remove artificial refuges that attract animals into machinery areas, roads or other unsafe locations.

Rehabilitation actions: Weed, predator and fire management

Control invasive weeds while protecting regenerating rainforest and streamside vegetation.

Prevent domestic cats, dogs and other domestic animals from entering retained and rehabilitated habitat because domestic animal predation is identified as a threat.

Manage fire so that riparian forest, streamside vegetation, leaf litter and moist refuges are not unnecessarily lost. Apply the approved local fire regime and obtain ecological advice before planned burning near occupied habitat.

Inspect restored sites for disease, dead frogs, unusual mortality, sediment and loss of canopy or ground cover.

• Use hygiene controls for workers, vehicles, tools and monitoring equipment between streams.
• Do not introduce fish, frogs or other animals into restored ponds or streams unless specifically authorised by the project ecologist and regulator.
• Treat any disease concern as an incident and seek advice from the relevant wildlife health authority.

Rehabilitation actions: Success measures and monitoring

Set success measures for retained and restored riparian width, native plant survival, canopy and ground cover, stream pool and riffle structure, water quality, sediment control, weed cover, connectivity and frog detections.

Repeat night call and visual surveys from October to March at restored streams and nearby rainforest, using the same method and locations across monitoring rounds where possible.

Record tadpoles, metamorphs, adults and calling males separately because they use different parts of the stream and rainforest habitat.

Continue management until the site meets the approval conditions and agreed ecological success measures, not merely until planting is complete.

Breeding period for monitoring: October to March

Tadpole development period: Approximately two months in streams

Reported generation length: Estimated at 3.5 years

• Report monitoring data, maintenance, failures and corrective actions to the approval holder and relevant regulator.
• Submit confirmed species records to the relevant Queensland wildlife database with coordinates, date, life stage, method and observer details.
• Use the two-month stream larval period when planning post-restoration checks for tadpoles and metamorphs.

Sources

• Grow some frogs, kurandaconservation.org: https://kurandaconservation.org/projects/the-tads-tank/
• Spicicalyx myola - Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranoidea_myola
• AmphibiaWeb, amphibiaweb.org: https://amphibiaweb.org/species/6958
• Amphibian Names Index, wangetti.org: https://www.wangetti.org/amphibian_names_index.html
• Spicicalyx myola, All Angles Creatures, allanglescreatures.com: https://www.allanglescreatures.com/species/spicicalyx-myola
• Spicicalyx myola - Species Profile, frogid.net.au: https://www.frogid.net.au/frogs/spicicalyx-myola/