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Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peronii)

The Striped Marsh Frog is a medium to large, ground-dwelling frog of wetlands, farm dams, flooded grassland, woodlands and modified sites across much of eastern and southern Australia. It may occur in or beside clearing and construction areas, particularly where still water, dense vegetation and moist terrestrial habitat remain. Conservation status varies between jurisdictions, including Endangered in Tasmania, Rare in South Australia and a Priority 4 listing in Western Australia. Treat occupied breeding habitat as sensitive, and obtain state-specific advice before disturbance.

Conservation status

Tasmania, Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: Endangered.

Breeding season

The Striped Marsh Frog breeds mainly from spring through summer, with some breeding reported from late winter to early spring. Calling can occur in most months, and unseasonal rain may trigger breeding outside the usual seasonal period.

Breeding mode: Eggs are laid in floating foam rafts or foam nests on the surface of still or slow-moving water. The foam is commonly attached to reeds, rushes, overhanging vegetation or other aquatic plants.

Breeding places: Farm dams, flooded grasslands, roadside ditches, quarries, natural ponds, pools and slow-moving waterbodies that retain water.

Egg number: Up to about 1300 pigmented or unpigmented eggs.

Hatching: Eggs may hatch about 4 days after laying.

Tadpole development: Tadpoles may grow to about 81 mm. The duration of tadpole development is not recorded.

Fledging or weaning: Not applicable.

Age at maturity: Not recorded.

Timing varies between years and regions, particularly after rain, so waterbodies and nearby terrestrial habitat should be checked whenever works occur outside the usual breeding season.

  • Breeding and egg laying: Breeding is mainly recorded from spring to summer, with late winter to early spring breeding also reported in Victoria.
  • Eggs and tadpoles in breeding water: Foam rafts and developing tadpoles may be present in still or slow-moving water during the breeding period.
  • Male calling: Males can call in most months, with calling reduced or absent during deep winter in some areas, although year-round calling is also reported.
  • Rain-triggered breeding or activity: Unseasonal rain can trigger breeding or daytime frog activity outside the usual spring and summer period.
  • Highest clearing risk: The highest risk is during spring and summer when foam nests, eggs and tadpoles may be present in or beside retained water.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Striped Marsh Frog is a robust brown frog with dark stripes and a pale belly. It is often detected by its distinctive call before it is seen, especially at night or after rain.

The back is light brown to grey-brown, with several dark brown or black stripes. The sides and legs may have scattered spots. A broad dark stripe commonly runs from the nose, through the eye, towards the arm.

The skin is mostly smooth. The belly is white. Toes are unwebbed or have very little webbing, and there are no toe pads.

Large females reach about 65 mm in length. Males are about 40 mm. Some regional guides record adults to 90 mm, so size alone should not be used for identification.

Family: Limnodynastidae, the Australian ground frogs or foam-nesting frogs.

Typical colours: Brown, dark brown or black, white underneath.

  • Look for a large, brown, smooth-skinned frog with dark stripes along the back.
  • Check for the dark stripe through the eye and the absence of toe pads.

Identification: Calls and similar species

The call is a single short note, commonly described as a plonk, tock, whuck or tok. It may sound like a drop striking water, a hammer striking an anvil or a clucking hen. Calls are repeated at intervals of a few seconds.

Males call from submerged or floating vegetation, from grass near the water, or from the water's edge. Calling can occur through most of the year, but deep winter is quieter in some areas.

Potential confusion species include the Spotted Marsh Frog and Eastern Sedge Frog. Call identification by an experienced frog ecologist is usually the most reliable approach.

Best detection period: After rain and during warmer, wetter conditions, with activity often highest at night.

  • Record calls with a phone or other suitable recorder where practicable.
  • Use a reference recording and have uncertain calls checked by an experienced frog ecologist.

Identification: Field signs

The most useful field signs are the call, frogs in wet grass or aquatic vegetation, and floating foam egg rafts. Foam rafts may be attached to reeds, rushes or other vegetation at the water surface.

Do not rely on droppings, whitewash, odour or stains. These are not reliable field signs for this species.

  • Inspect the margins of ponds, dams, ditches and flooded grassland carefully.
  • Search beneath grass and vegetation rather than only scanning open water.

Distribution: Australian range

The Striped Marsh Frog has a broad Australian distribution and is adaptable to both natural and modified landscapes. Mapped jurisdictions include New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

The described range extends from South Australia and Tasmania along the eastern mainland to Cape York. It includes eastern mainland Australia, southern Victoria, south-eastern South Australia and northern Tasmania.

In Queensland, populations occur in the Wet Tropics, Central Queensland Coast and south-east Queensland. Outlying Queensland populations occur in the sandstone areas of the Carnarvon Ranges and on the Blackdown Tableland.

Records and mapped occurrence should be checked against current state databases for the project locality, particularly in areas where the species has a jurisdictional conservation listing.

  • New South Wales, including the Hunter Region and Riverina.
  • Queensland, from the Wet Tropics and Cape York areas south through the central and south-east coast, with inland outliers in the Carnarvon Ranges and Blackdown Tableland.
  • South Australia, including the south-eastern part of the state.
  • Tasmania, including northern Tasmania.
  • Victoria, especially the eastern and southern parts of the state.
  • Western Australia is included in the mapped jurisdictional range, but the available locality detail is limited.

Distribution: Status and project implications

Status differs between states. Tasmania lists the species as Endangered. It is listed as Rare in South Australia and as Priority 4 in Western Australia. Queensland lists it as Least Concern, although Queensland near threatened animals are protected wildlife and interference with a breeding place may require a species management program where the relevant listing applies.

The species is treated as an EVNT species in the project context. Confirm the current legal status, local population status and approval requirements before clearing, wetland modification or work around a known breeding place. Apply the more protective approach where status or occupancy is uncertain.

  • Do not assume that a common local occurrence removes the need for site assessment.
  • Escalate records from Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia to the project ecologist and relevant state authority.
  • Retain evidence of survey conditions, calls, photographs, locations and breeding habitat.

Habitat: Wetland and water features

This is a habitat generalist, but it is most often associated with wet areas and persistent or semi-permanent water. On works sites, focus on the connection between aquatic breeding places and nearby moist ground cover.

Search around farm dams, natural ponds, slow-moving creek pools, flooded grassland, roadside ditches, quarries and forested wetlands. The species can use still or very slow-moving water that remains available for an extended period.

Artificial water features may also be occupied. Include drains, retention ponds, table drains and other wet depressions in the site assessment where they hold water or support dense wetland vegetation.

Water condition: Prioritise still or slow-moving water, especially water that persists beyond short rainfall events.

  • Dams and ponds with shallow margins.
  • Flooded pasture and grassland depressions.
  • Roadside ditches, quarry pools and drainage features.
  • Creek pools and slow-moving water, particularly where still margins are present.

Habitat: Terrestrial and surrounding habitat

Suitable surrounding habitat includes moist open forest, wet and dry woodland, Melaleuca forest, heathland, grassland, farmland and suburban gardens. Dense grass, leaf litter and low vegetation around water can provide cover for adults moving or calling.

Assess habitat beyond the waterline. Frogs may use terrestrial areas between breeding sites, and road or construction footprints can intersect these movement routes.

  • Retain vegetated buffers around ponds, dams and drainage lines where practicable.
  • Map nearby moist grassland, woodland, forest edge and low shelter vegetation as part of the habitat unit.
  • Consider connectivity between multiple wetlands rather than assessing each waterbody in isolation.

Habitat: Site assessment

Before clearing, walk the full area around mapped and unmapped water features. Inspect depressions, wet grass, dense vegetation and temporary pools after rain. Record water persistence, vegetation cover, connectivity and nearby barriers such as roads or hardstand.

For the Endangered Tasmanian population and other listed state occurrences, use a conservative assessment and seek specialist advice before removing wetland or adjoining terrestrial habitat.

  • Map breeding water, wet margins and likely movement routes.
  • Include ephemeral wet areas that fill after rain, especially where frogs or calls are detected.
  • Avoid driving through wetland margins and dense wet grass during wet conditions.

Foraging habitat: Foraging areas

Adults feed mainly on invertebrates and may also take smaller frogs. Detailed species-specific foraging patterns are not well documented, so retain a range of moist ground cover and wetland edge habitat around breeding places.

Likely foraging habitat includes damp ground, grass, leaf litter, low vegetation, wetland margins and woodland or forest floor close to water. Suburban gardens, pasture, heathland and farm margins may also be used.

Frogs may forage at night when conditions are damp. Avoid assuming that open ground between the wetland and the construction footprint has no habitat value.

  • Moist grass and leaf litter around ponds and dams.
  • Dense reeds, rushes, low shrubs and wetland edge vegetation.
  • Woodland, forest and pasture adjoining breeding water.
  • Damp garden, quarry and roadside vegetation where frogs are present.

Foraging habitat: Practical controls

Maintain ground cover and moisture around retained wetlands. Limit unnecessary clearing, soil compaction, lighting and chemical use in wetland margins.

Manage runoff so that sediment, concrete washout, hydrocarbons, herbicides and other pollutants do not enter occupied water or adjoining damp habitat.

  • Keep machinery and material storage away from wetland edges.
  • Use clean water controls and stabilise exposed soil promptly.
  • Minimise night lighting directed at wetlands and vegetated margins.
  • Inspect work areas after rain for frogs before machinery moves through damp habitat.

Breeding habitat: Breeding places

Breeding occurs in water, generally in spring and summer, although rain can trigger calling and breeding outside the usual period. The breeding place is the waterbody and its vegetated margin, not just the visible foam nest.

The species breeds in dams, ponds, flooded grassland, roadside ditches, quarry pools and pools associated with streams. It favours still or very slow-moving water, including water that persists for extended periods.

Males call while submerged, from floating vegetation or from grass and other cover beside the water. Females place dark brown or pigmented eggs in floating foam rafts, commonly attached to reeds, rushes or other aquatic vegetation.

Breeding season: Usually spring and summer. Late winter to early spring breeding is also recorded, and unseasonal rain may trigger breeding at other times.

Egg development: One regional guide records hatching about 4 days after laying.

  • Inspect all permanent and semi-permanent waterbodies.
  • Check vegetation mats and the water surface for foam rafts.
  • Treat suitable water with calling males as an active or potential breeding place, even if no eggs are seen.

Breeding habitat: Breeding habitat protection

Avoid clearing aquatic vegetation, draining water, altering flow or infilling depressions while breeding activity is possible. Retain the wetland, vegetated margins and nearby terrestrial cover as one habitat unit.

Foam nests can be difficult to see and may be concealed among reeds or floating vegetation. A clear water surface does not show that a breeding place is unused.

  • Schedule wetland works for the driest practical period only after a qualified assessment.
  • Use exclusion fencing where work must occur beside occupied breeding habitat.
  • Prevent sediment, concrete, fuel and chemical contamination.
  • Keep access tracks and haul routes out of wet margins and drainage lines.

Breeding habitat: Survey focus

Use nocturnal call surveys after rain and during spring and summer, while recognising that calling may occur in most months. Listen for the repeated single note and inspect likely waterbodies for foam nests, adults and tadpoles.

The NSW threatened frog survey guide lists an adult aural and visual survey period of 30 minutes and a tadpole sweep-net period of 5 minutes for a record identified there as Litoria peronii. Treat these as reference effort only and confirm the current state or project survey protocol before relying on them.

  • Use experienced frog ecologists for call identification where the species is difficult to separate from other marsh frogs.
  • Record date, time, rainfall, temperature if available, water condition, call intensity and exact location.
  • Do not handle or transfer frogs between sites because disease can be spread between populations.

Sheltering habitat: Likely refuges

Specific daytime shelter and roost sites are not well defined for this species. Adults are associated with moist ground and dense vegetation, and calling males are often concealed rather than exposed.

Search under grass, low vegetation, leaf litter and damp ground cover near water. Dense reeds, rushes, floating vegetation, wetland margins and shaded garden or woodland cover may provide shelter.

The species is ground dwelling, and members of its family may burrow. Avoid disturbing loose soil, litter and dense ground cover unnecessarily, especially near occupied breeding water.

  • Wet grass and tussock bases.
  • Leaf litter and low vegetation at the water's edge.
  • Reeds, rushes and floating aquatic plants.
  • Moist woodland, forest, pasture and garden margins near wetlands.

Sheltering habitat: Handling and exclusion

Use a qualified fauna spotter catcher where frogs may be encountered during clearing. Do not move frogs to another wetland or release them at a distant location, as this can spread disease and disrupt site fidelity.

If a frog is found in a work area, stop the immediate activity, keep it cool and shaded, and follow the project fauna handling procedure. Use clean, unpowdered disposable gloves and avoid direct contact with the animal.

  • Keep machinery, spoil and materials away from likely refuge areas until they have been checked.
  • Use clean equipment between wetland sites to reduce chytrid disease risk.
  • If temporary containment is approved, use a clean, suitable container and obtain advice on the shortest safe release distance.

Threats: Habitat loss and hydrology

Development can affect the Striped Marsh Frog through direct mortality, loss of wetland habitat and changes to water quality and movement routes. The level of protection is highest in listed jurisdictions, so controls should reflect the local conservation status and the results of the site assessment.

Clearing wetlands, flooded grassland, wet forest, woodland edges and adjoining ground cover removes breeding, shelter and foraging habitat. Draining, filling, diverting flow or changing the duration of inundation can make a breeding place unsuitable.

Retain natural drainage patterns where possible. Design temporary and permanent works to maintain water levels, wetland function and connectivity between aquatic and terrestrial habitat.

  • Avoid infilling ponds, dams, depressions and wet drains.
  • Protect wetland margins from excavation, compaction and unnecessary vegetation removal.
  • Keep overland flow and clean water separate from sediment-laden construction water.

Threats: Water quality and pollution

Sediment, concrete washout, hydrocarbons, herbicides, pesticides and other pollutants can harm eggs, tadpoles and adult frogs. Weed invasion and loss of aquatic vegetation can also reduce habitat quality.

Use erosion and sediment controls before ground disturbance. Inspect controls after rain and prevent contaminated water from entering retained wetlands, drains or creek pools.

  • Locate refuelling, chemical storage and washout areas away from water.
  • Use low-impact weed and pest management around occupied wetlands.
  • Stop and report spills promptly, then protect the wetland from runoff.

Threats: Vehicles, machinery and barriers

Frogs may move across roads, tracks and construction areas during wet weather. Vehicle strike is a recognised amphibian impact, particularly near wetlands. Roads, hardstand and poorly designed drainage structures can also restrict movement between breeding and terrestrial habitat.

Use targeted exclusion fencing, fauna crossings or temporary traffic controls where surveys show movement or where work crosses a wetland connection. Dry culverts should not be assumed to provide effective frog passage.

  • Reduce vehicle speed near wetlands and during wet weather.
  • Inspect exclusion fencing for gaps and trapped frogs.
  • Schedule high-risk vehicle movements outside periods of heavy frog activity where practicable.
  • Keep temporary fencing and trenches checked by fauna personnel.

Threats: Disease, light and listing obligations

Chytrid fungus is a recognised threat to Australian frogs. Contaminated boots, nets, gloves, containers and vehicles can spread disease between wetlands. Artificial light, noise and vibration may also disturb calling and movement.

For Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, apply the relevant threatened or near threatened controls and seek approval advice before disturbing habitat. In Queensland, confirm whether the animal is protected wildlife under the applicable local listing and whether interference with a breeding place requires a species management program.

Jurisdictional status: Endangered in Tasmania, Rare in South Australia, Priority 4 in Western Australia and Least Concern in Queensland. The species is treated as an EVNT species in the project context.

  • Use clean or disinfected equipment between waterbodies under the project hygiene protocol.
  • Do not move frogs, tadpoles, water, plants or wet soil between sites.
  • Keep lighting away from wetland edges and use the lowest practical intensity.
  • Record all sightings and breeding evidence, then notify the project ecologist before work continues.

Survey methodology: 1. Call surveys

Survey wet areas, farm dams, ditches, flooded grassland, ponds and slow moving water. The Striped Marsh Frog is often detected by its short, repeated call, but surveys should also check for foam nests, eggs, tadpoles and adults concealed in vegetation.

Survey from dusk into the evening when frogs are calling. Spring and summer are the main breeding period, but calling can occur in most months, apart from deep winter. Unseasonal rain can trigger breeding at other times.

Listen around still or very slow moving water, especially where reeds, rushes, grass or other vegetation overhangs the water. The call is a single short sound, described as a plonk, toc, tok or whuck, repeated every few seconds.

  • Survey after rain or during warm, wet conditions where practicable.
  • Allow time for observers to stop, listen and separate individual calls from background noise.
  • Use an audio recording for later confirmation where the call is uncertain.
  • Have an experienced frog ecologist check unusual or uncertain calls.

Survey methodology: 2. Aural and visual searches

Use a 30 minute adult aural and visual search at each suitable wetland or activity area as a practical starting point. Search the water edge, floating vegetation, grass and damp ground without trampling likely breeding habitat.

The Striped Marsh Frog is commonly concealed in vegetation. Use a quiet, slow approach and avoid excessive disturbance before listening.

  • Search likely shelter and calling areas with a head torch using a red filter where available.
  • Do not enter deep water or disturb foam rafts merely to improve detection.
  • Record whether the frog was heard, seen, or detected by other evidence.

Survey methodology: 3. Tadpole and breeding place checks

Where water is suitable and access is safe, undertake a five minute sweep net search for tadpoles. Treat the times in this method as a field starting point, then increase effort where habitat is extensive, detection is poor, or the listing level requires greater confidence.

Inspect the water surface and aquatic vegetation for floating foam rafts containing dark eggs. Look for tadpoles in shallow margins, vegetation and sheltered water.

  • Use clean, disinfected equipment between wetlands to reduce chytrid transmission.
  • Do not repeatedly sweep the same small wetland if this could damage eggs, tadpoles or foam nests.
  • Record the presence, approximate extent and condition of each breeding place.

Survey methodology: 4. Survey records

Record enough information for another ecologist to relocate the observation and understand the risk to the site. Record negative results as well as detections.

  • Date, start and finish time, observers and weather.
  • Recent rainfall, temperature if measured, wind, cloud, water level and water condition.
  • GPS location, wetland type, water permanence and surrounding terrestrial habitat.
  • Call recordings, photographs, species confidence and numbers or an abundance category.
  • Foam nests, eggs, tadpoles, adults, road crossings, barriers and nearby construction hazards.
  • Survey limitations, including access, noise, rain, poor visibility or unsuitable water conditions.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Desktop assessment

Plan to retain breeding water and the damp terrestrial habitat around it. The species is adaptable, but local populations can depend on repeated access to the same ponds and on safe movement between water and surrounding habitat.

Map all permanent and semi permanent water, drainage lines, dams, flooded grassland, wetland vegetation and likely movement links before finalising the work footprint. Check records and conservation mapping for the relevant state and local government area.

The Striped Marsh Frog has no known regular migration route. Treat movement between wetland and terrestrial habitat as important, because frogs generally show site fidelity and need more than one route between habitat areas.

  • Check whether the project is in Tasmania, where the species is listed as Endangered.
  • In South Australia and Tasmania, check the implications of the Rare listing. In Western Australia, check the Priority 4 management expectations.
  • In Queensland, treat the species as protected wildlife and check whether disturbance to a breeding place requires a species management program.
  • Confirm state wildlife permits, fauna survey approvals, scientific licences and clearing approvals before work starts.
  • Check whether an EPBC Act referral is required for other protected matters or project impacts. The Striped Marsh Frog is not listed under the EPBC Act in the cited conservation profile.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and work planning

Keep the work footprint out of wetlands, dams, ditches and vegetated water margins wherever practicable. Retain overhanging and aquatic vegetation used for calling and foam nests.

Use the smallest practical access route and avoid changing drainage, runoff, water depth or the period for which a pond holds water.

  • Set site specific no go areas around breeding places after a field ecologist has assessed the wetland and its risk.
  • Use a wider retained habitat area where the wetland is small, the surrounding ground is damp, or the jurisdictional approval requires it.
  • Do not rely on a generic buffer where the project could affect water quality, hydrology, movement or breeding vegetation.
  • Schedule earthworks outside active breeding where practicable. Recheck after rain, because breeding can occur outside the usual spring and summer period.
  • Avoid night works near wetlands where light, noise or vehicle movement could disrupt calling and increase collision risk.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre clearance survey and exclusion

Complete a pre clearance survey shortly before works, with the timing set by the approval and the site risk. Reinspect after substantial rain or if works are delayed.

Use temporary fencing to separate the approved work area from retained wetland and terrestrial habitat. Fencing must not block necessary movement routes or funnel frogs onto roads.

  • Mark foam nests, egg masses, tadpole habitat and occupied wetland margins before machinery arrives.
  • Have a fauna spotter catcher inspect vegetation, damp ground, stockpiles, pipes, machinery and other refuges before disturbance.
  • Keep excavations, trenches and stored materials covered or fitted with escape routes when unattended.
  • Do not move frogs between sites. Any necessary movement must be by authorised personnel under the relevant approval and disease hygiene procedures.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Crew induction

Brief all workers before clearing. Show the call and photographs or field descriptions used by the project ecologist, and explain that frogs may be hidden in grass, floating vegetation and damp ground.

  • Explain the no go areas, fencing, access routes and approved work hours.
  • Tell workers to stop and notify the fauna spotter catcher if a frog, foam nest, tadpole group or wetland impact is found.
  • Prohibit unauthorised handling, collection, release or transport of frogs.
  • Require clean boots, gloves, nets, containers and other equipment between wetlands where contact with water or frogs is possible.
  • Display the fauna spotter catcher contact details and the stop work process.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clear in a controlled sequence from the least sensitive edge towards the approved work area. The fauna spotter catcher must have clear authority to stop work whenever an animal, breeding place or unexpected habitat risk is found.

Install and inspect exclusion fencing before clearing. Remove vegetation progressively, using low speed machinery and short work stages around wet ground and wetland margins.

Keep machinery out of retained water and avoid crushing foam nests, aquatic vegetation, damp refuges or movement routes.

  • Clear the approved outer edge first, then work towards the centre of the disturbance area.
  • Pause between stages to allow hidden animals to move away where the risk assessment supports this.
  • Inspect each area immediately before machinery enters it.
  • Stop if water begins to pond, flow changes, sediment enters a wetland, or frogs begin moving across the work area.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Animal handling

Only an authorised fauna spotter catcher or other person permitted under the approval may handle a frog. Use the shortest safe movement possible and do not move frogs between locations or wetlands.

Use wet, clean hands or powder free disposable gloves. Place a frog in a clean, secure container only when necessary, and keep it cool, dark and damp for the shortest practical time.

  • Do not handle frogs with dry hands, sunscreen, chemicals or contaminated gloves.
  • Do not wash animals in disinfectant or release them into a different catchment.
  • Release a healthy animal at the nearest suitable moist, shaded habitat approved by the ecologist.
  • Clean or discard gloves and containers after use, and disinfect equipment between wetlands under the project hygiene procedure.
  • Record the capture, condition, temporary holding time, release location and person responsible.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Breeding places and unexpected habitat

Stop work immediately if a foam nest, eggs, tadpoles, calling aggregation or occupied wetland is found inside or close to the work area. Keep people, vehicles and sediment away while the fauna ecologist and site supervisor reassess the activity.

Do not remove a foam nest or drain, fill or isolate a breeding place without written approval and an agreed method.

  • Fence the find and establish a temporary no entry area appropriate to the wetland and the likely impact pathway.
  • Photograph and map the find without disturbing it.
  • Contact the project ecologist, superintendent and approval holder.
  • Obtain regulator advice where the work may affect a protected breeding place, particularly in Queensland or in a state where the species has a threatened listing.
  • Resume work only after the control measures, timing and authorisation have been documented.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injured or dead animals

Treat injured frogs as wildlife requiring prompt professional assessment. Avoid unnecessary handling and protect the animal from machinery, heat, traffic and direct light.

  • Stop work in the immediate area and notify the fauna spotter catcher.
  • Use a clean, damp, ventilated container if the authorised handler must move the animal.
  • Contact the local wildlife carer, veterinarian or relevant wildlife authority nominated in the project plan.
  • Do not release an injured animal without veterinary or wildlife carer advice.
  • Record the location, suspected cause, condition, photographs, action taken and final outcome.

During habitat disturbance: 5. Daily records and stop work events

Maintain a daily fauna register for all searches, sightings, captures, breeding places, injuries, deaths and stop work events. Link records to maps, photographs and approval conditions.

  • Record personnel, work area, plant used, weather and the start and finish time of fauna checks.
  • Record all handling, release and hygiene actions.
  • Report any breach of an exclusion area, permit condition, water quality control or approved work method immediately.
  • Escalate repeated frog encounters or vehicle movements near wetlands to the site manager and ecologist before continuing.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post clearance checks

A site is not clear simply because no frog was seen during the first inspection. Check the disturbed area and retained wetlands after each work stage, then review whether controls protected breeding habitat, water quality and movement routes.

Inspect the cleared area, retained wetland margins, fencing and access tracks at the end of each clearing stage and after heavy rain. Look for trapped frogs, new ponding, damaged foam nests, sediment, fallen fencing and blocked movement routes.

  • Check trenches, pits, pipes, culverts and stored materials for trapped animals before they are covered or moved.
  • Remove or modify hazards under the approved fauna procedure.
  • Repair exclusion fencing promptly.
  • Confirm that runoff controls are working and that sediment, fuel, concrete washout and chemicals are not entering water.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Monitoring and release follow up

Where animals were relocated under approval, revisit the release area and the source site as required by the ecological risk assessment. Do not assume relocation has established a population.

Continue call and breeding checks during the next suitable wet and warm periods, with extra attention in spring and summer and after unseasonal rain.

  • Use the same observation points and recording method where possible.
  • Record calls, adults, foam nests, eggs, tadpoles, water level, vegetation condition and threats.
  • Check whether released or resident frogs are exposed to roads, lighting, cats, chemicals or altered drainage.
  • Increase monitoring where the species is Endangered, Rare or Priority 4, or where a breeding place was disturbed.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Reporting

Prepare a completion report that is clear enough for the approval holder and regulator to audit. Include both successful controls and unexpected impacts.

  • Map the final cleared footprint and retained habitat.
  • List survey dates, methods, effort, weather, results and limitations.
  • Summarise all captures, releases, injuries, deaths, breeding places and stop work events.
  • Attach photographs, call recordings, fauna registers, permits and regulator correspondence.
  • Report threatened species incidents under the relevant state approval and management plan.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Review any injury, death, breeding place impact, water quality failure or repeated frog movement before the next work stage. Use the review to change the method, timing, fencing or supervision.

  • Identify the direct cause and any contributing site conditions.
  • Check whether the fauna spotter catcher could stop work quickly enough.
  • Update the induction and toolbox talk where a new risk was identified.
  • Record corrective actions, the responsible person and the completion date.
  • Notify the relevant authority if required by the approval or permit.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Wetland and water restoration

Restore functioning wetland and terrestrial habitat rather than installing structures designed for birds or bats. The Striped Marsh Frog uses still or slow moving water, floating vegetation and damp ground, so rehabilitation should support these features and maintain clean movement links.

Reinstate natural drainage and shallow depressions where this is consistent with the approved design and surrounding hydrology. Retain or recreate still and semi permanent water that can hold water for an extended period.

Use local native reeds, rushes, grasses and other aquatic plants to provide cover for calling males and floating foam nests.

  • Prevent sediment, concrete, fuel, herbicide and pesticide runoff from entering water.
  • Avoid steep, smooth edges that trap frogs. Provide gentle margins and damp refuge areas where practicable.
  • Do not stock or introduce fish, cane toads or other predators into restored water.
  • Do not create isolated ponds that increase disease spread or become permanent hazards without an ecological assessment.
  • Maintain water quality and water levels through the establishment period.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Terrestrial habitat and connectivity

Restore native grass, woodland, wetland edge and ground cover around retained water. Keep movement routes between wetland and surrounding habitat open and free of unnecessary barriers.

The species is a ground dwelling frog and may use farmland, gardens, floodplains, woodlands and other modified habitat. Retain a connected mosaic rather than a single isolated pond.

  • Replace compacted soil with suitable local soil and leaf litter where available.
  • Retain logs, coarse woody debris and low ground cover where they do not create a fire or safety risk.
  • Use wildlife friendly crossings or drainage treatments where roads or tracks interrupt movement.
  • Keep temporary fencing only as long as it is needed, then remove it without damaging restored habitat.
  • Control weeds by methods that prevent spray drift and chemical entry into breeding water.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Replacement breeding habitat

Nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial nest sites and roost structures do not suit this frog. Replacement habitat should instead be a carefully designed pond or wetland with still water, suitable water retention and aquatic vegetation.

Provide a replacement breeding place only where an ecologist confirms that it will connect to suitable terrestrial habitat and will not harm existing wetlands or spread disease.

  • Design the waterbody to support floating vegetation and foam nest attachment.
  • Use local hydrology and avoid a design that dries before tadpoles can develop.
  • Protect the replacement wetland from vehicles, lighting, pollutants and domestic animals.
  • Obtain approval before replacing, filling or modifying an existing breeding place.
  • Monitor the replacement wetland for water quality, vegetation, predators, foam nests and tadpoles.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Lighting, chemicals and predators

Keep artificial light away from wetland margins and movement routes. Use the lowest practical intensity, shield lights downwards and avoid lighting the water surface.

Manage cats, foxes, weeds, herbicides, pesticides and other pollutants around restored habitat.

  • Use non chemical weed control near water where practicable.
  • Store fuels, chemicals and waste away from drainage lines and wetlands.
  • Keep construction lighting directed into the work area and switch it off when not required.
  • Use fauna friendly drainage and cover or inspect pits and pipes regularly.
  • Include chytrid hygiene in maintenance and rehabilitation work.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Long term monitoring

Monitor restored habitat through wet and warm conditions, including spring and summer and after unseasonal rain. Continue for the period required by the approval, with longer monitoring where the species has a threatened listing or the project affected a breeding place.

  • Repeat call surveys from fixed listening points.
  • Check foam nests, eggs, tadpoles, adults, water permanence, vegetation and weed cover.
  • Record road mortality, predators, lighting, sediment and changes in hydrology.
  • Compare results with pre works records and act when habitat is drying, polluted, isolated or not being used.
  • Review the management plan with the land manager and relevant regulator when monitoring identifies a declining trend.

Sources