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Tusked Frog (Adelotus brevis)

The tusked frog is a medium-sized Australian frog that breeds in ponds, dams and slow-moving stream sections, while adults also use surrounding forest, woodland and ground cover. It is Vulnerable in Queensland and the Nandewar and New England Tablelands population is Endangered under New South Wales legislation, so clearing, sediment runoff, altered water flows, pathogen spread and removal of terrestrial refuge habitat require specific controls on project sites.

Conservation status

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Vulnerable.

Breeding season

Tusked Frogs generally call and breed from late winter or spring through autumn, with the strongest calling records in September to November and January. Eggs and tadpoles can be present from September to June, so clearing, draining and dewatering should avoid wet breeding margins and nearby refuges during this period.

Reproductive mode: Egg laying in a floating foam mass, with the male remaining with or guarding the eggs until hatching.

Clutch size: Approximately 350 eggs on average in the existing profile; other sources report approximately or more than 600 eggs.

Incubation: The eggs hatch after a few days, but the exact incubation period is not recorded.

Size at hatching or birth: Not recorded. Tadpoles reach about 3 to 3.5 cm before metamorphosis.

Age at maturity: Not recorded.

Nest or egg sites: Floating foam masses in permanent ponds, stream pools, water-filled crayfish holes, cattle tracks, dams and slow-moving water. Males conceal nests in leaf litter or vegetation at water edges and in shallow water.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded.

Confirm timing locally from recent records, rainfall, temperature, calling activity and water levels before clearing or dewatering, because breeding timing varies across the species' Queensland and New South Wales range.

  • Calling: Calling is recorded as a peak in January and September to November. Calling is also recorded in February to August and December, with the broader range extending from June to April in some areas.
  • Egg laying: Egg laying occurs during the spring and summer breeding period, with the existing profile recording breeding from September to April. Other species records identify October to December as the breeding-season core, but do not establish a monthly egg-laying peak.
  • Tadpoles: Tadpoles may be present from September to June because eggs are laid from September to April and development takes about two to three months. Tadpoles commonly remain near the bottom of the water body.
  • Froglets: Froglets may leave the water from November to July, based on the two to three month tadpole period following egg laying from September to April. The month of juvenile emergence is not recorded directly.
  • Active period: Tusked Frogs are primarily nocturnal and become more active during the breeding season, but species records do not define a closed annual activity period. Adults may move between water and nearby damp refuges throughout the year, depending on moisture and local conditions.
  • Highest clearing risk: Risk is highest from September to April, when calling adults, foam nests, eggs and tadpoles may be present. Tadpoles and recently transformed froglets can extend the risk period into June or July, while nearby terrestrial shelter remains relevant year-round.

Identification

The tusked frog is a squat, medium-sized frog with rough, dark upperparts and conspicuous red and black marbling on the hind legs. It is most reliably identified by its combination of a butterfly-shaped head marking, marbled underside and, in males and females, paired lower-jaw projections visible when the mouth is open.

The back is dark brown, grey or beige with darker variegated patterning. A dark butterfly-shaped patch extends from between the eyes. The underside is smooth and mottled or marbled white and black or grey. The groin and the hind sides of the calves are marbled red and black.

The fingers and toes have rudimentary webbing but lack terminal discs. The pupil is horizontal and the iris is golden brown.

Adult length: Up to 50 mm snout to vent length

Weight: Not reported in the supplied documents

Tadpole length: Up to approximately 35 mm total length

Identification: Sex differences

Both sexes have paired tusk-like projections at the front of the lower jaw. These are visible only when the mouth is open.

Males are larger than females and have a broader, flatter head. Adult males defend calling sites and may give territorial calls when approached by another male.

Male size: 34 to 50 mm

Female size: 29 to 38 mm

Identification: Similar species and field signs

The species may be confused with black-soled frogs, gungans, broodfrogs and froglets. The white and black or grey marbled underside separates it from the black-soled frog. Red on the backs of the calves helps separate it from broodfrogs and froglets, while red on the back of the calves and the butterfly-shaped head marking help separate it from Uperoleia species.

The advertisement call is a slow, soft sound described as ‘pluck’, ‘p-tuk’ or ‘p-t-t-tuk’. Males call from under rocks, logs and debris, in dense vegetation, shallow burrows and other sites close to water.

Foam egg masses may be found floating on permanent ponds, stream pools, water-filled crayfish holes or cattle tracks. Tadpoles are dark brown, often remain near the bottom of water bodies and have low, mostly clear fins with fine dark spots.

Distribution: National range

The tusked frog has a disjunct coastal and range-associated distribution from central Queensland to the south coast of New South Wales, with inland populations in several Queensland tableland and gorge areas. Records and historical accounts indicate substantial declines in upland and western parts of the range, although the species remains widespread in some lowland and foothill areas.

In Queensland, the species occurs from the Clarke Range and Eungella area south through Shoalwater Bay and the Great Dividing Range, with inland populations recorded at Blackdown Tableland, Carnarvon Gorge and Barakula State Forest. In New South Wales, it extends south to near Moss Vale.

The supplied documents associate the species with the Clarke Range, mid-eastern Queensland, the New England Tablelands, the Nandewar Bioregion, the Scenic Rim and other areas east of the Great Dividing Range.

States: Queensland and New South Wales

Latitudinal extent described in the documents: Approximately Eungella, Queensland, to near Moss Vale, New South Wales

Bioregions and areas named: Nandewar and New England Tablelands, Clarke Range, Scenic Rim, Blackdown Tableland and Carnarvon Gorge

Distribution: Strongholds and subpopulations

The species is still widespread in lowlands and foothills east of the Great Dividing Range in south-eastern Queensland. In Brisbane, records are concentrated mainly in western and southern suburbs, including areas around Algester, Chandler, Karawatha, Kenmore, Mansfield, Mt Coot-tha, Toowong and Upper Brookfield.

The species has also been recorded in coastal forests, open eucalypt woodland, vine forest, high-altitude wet forest and rainforest from the Numinbah Valley to Kroombit Tops and Blackdown Tableland.

Brisbane survey result: Recorded in 25% of 119 suburbs surveyed

SEQ systematic survey result: Recorded at 24 sites and one incidental site across 11 survey areas in the cited fauna survey

Distribution: Trend and population information

Population size is not reported in the supplied documents. Declines and possible local extinctions have been reported from the New England Tableland, western-flowing streams of the Main Range, elevated sites in the Clarke Range, the Lockyer Valley, the Scenic Rim and the Eungella Range.

The Nandewar and New England Tablelands population was described as having declined over much of its range. Chytrid fungus is identified as a probable cause of some south-eastern Queensland declines, alongside habitat clearing, modification and introduced predators.

Estimated total population: Not reported

Documented trend: Declines across several upland and western parts of the range, with persistence in some lowland and foothill areas

Habitat: Overall habitat

Tusked frogs use both aquatic breeding sites and nearby terrestrial habitat. Habitat suitability is associated with water bodies, ground-layer cover and refuge features rather than one forest type alone.

The species occurs in rainforest, wet and dry eucalypt forest, woodland, vine forest, high-altitude wet forest and, in some areas, open grazing country. It has been recorded in coastal forests and in urban and peri-urban settings.

Breeding habitat includes permanent ponds, dams, slow-moving sections of streams and stream pools. The species may also use garden ponds, water-filled crayfish holes and cattle tracks.

Habitat: Structure and site conditions

Important ground-layer features include leaf litter, woody debris, shrub cover and suitable soils. Adults may occur under logs and in hollows or rock crevices beside streams and ponds.

Small streams may be unsuitable where the larval period exceeds the time that water remains available. Suitable sites need water bodies that persist for larval development, together with connected terrestrial habitat for feeding, shelter and movement.

Suggested terrestrial buffer: The Brisbane conservation guidelines recommend retaining and maintaining at least 50 m of intact terrestrial habitat and or buffer around aquatic habitats, while noting that further species-specific research is needed.

Habitat: Climate and elevation

The documents describe records from lowlands, foothills, ranges and high-altitude wet forests. No elevation limits are provided.

Warm, humid conditions after rainfall and the presence of surface water are associated with higher survey detectability. Chytrid-related mortality in south-eastern Queensland has been reported mainly during winter.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Adults forage on land around breeding water bodies and in nearby ground-layer habitat. The species feeds mainly on invertebrates, with males and females using somewhat different microhabitats.

Arthropods are the main prey, with beetles the largest recorded prey group followed by bugs. Males consume more molluscs and a broader range of prey types than females.

Females spend more time feeding in drier microhabitats, where arthropods may be more abundant. Males forage in muddy substrates close to the water edge, where molluscs are more common.

Main prey: Arthropods, especially beetles and bugs

Additional male prey: Molluscs and a broader range of invertebrates than females

Foraging habitat: Foraging habitat on project sites

Retain leaf litter, fallen timber, low vegetation, damp soil and muddy margins around ponds and slow-moving stream sections. Avoid removing terrestrial cover simply because it is outside the waterway.

The documents do not provide a measured foraging range or home range. Adults may move into terrestrial habitat when shallow water bodies dry or during prolonged dry periods, particularly where suitable refuge sites are available.

Foraging range: Not quantified in the supplied documents

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

Breeding occurs in warmer months in permanent or semi-permanent water bodies with sheltered margins and nearby cover. Project works can affect adults, egg masses and tadpoles by removing breeding sites, drying pools or degrading water quality.

Males call from sites in or close to water, including under rocks, logs and debris, within dense vegetation and in shallow burrows. Males construct concealed nests under leaf litter, vegetation or logs in shallow water at pond or stream-pool margins.

Eggs are laid in a floating foam mass. Tadpoles commonly remain near the bottom of the water body and take around two months to develop into frogs. A captive larval period of at least 50 days has also been reported.

Breeding season: Usually September to April

Egg mass: Floating foam mass, 8 to 12 cm in diameter

Eggs per mass: Approximately 350 on average

Larval development: Around two months, with a minimum captive larval span of 50 days

Gestation or incubation: Not applicable or not reported

Age at maturity: Not reported

Lifespan: Not reported

Breeding habitat: Required breeding features

Retain permanent ponds, dams, slow-moving stream sections, stream pools and connected shallow margins. Keep leaf litter, logs, dense vegetation, shallow burrows and other cover at the water edge.

Avoid works when calling, nesting, egg masses or tadpoles are present. Maintain water levels and prevent sediment, fertiliser, pesticide and other contaminated runoff from entering breeding water.

Sheltering habitat: Known refuges

Tusked frogs shelter in damp ground-layer features near water and can move into terrestrial habitat when shallow water bodies dry. These features are easily removed or buried during clearing, access formation and drainage works.

Adults have been found under logs, in hollows and rock crevices beside streams and ponds, under leaf litter, within dense vegetation and in shallow burrows. Calling and nesting sites may also be under rocks, logs and other debris at the water margin.

Suitable shelter is associated with damp ground, woody debris, leaf litter, low vegetation and moist soil. Retain these features within and around breeding habitat.

Refuge sizes: Specific refuge dimensions are not reported

Recommended terrestrial retention: At least 50 m of intact terrestrial habitat and or buffer around aquatic habitats is recommended in the Brisbane guidelines

Sheltering habitat: Handling and temporary capture

If capture is necessary, release frogs at the point of capture as soon as possible after identification. Avoid prolonged exposure to bright lights and minimise handling.

Use strict hygiene procedures between sites and equipment to reduce the risk of spreading chytrid fungus. Traps near breeding habitat must be checked early each morning, with shelter provided to reduce heat, dehydration and predation.

Threats: Clearing and fragmentation

The main project risks are loss or degradation of breeding water and adjacent terrestrial habitat, altered hydrology, pathogen transfer and introduced predators. A site may remain occupied even where habitat is disturbed, but the viability of populations in degraded sites is not known.

Clearing, urban development, agriculture and habitat simplification remove breeding sites, ground cover and terrestrial refuge habitat. Fragmentation can restrict juvenile dispersal and isolate small populations.

Roads can kill frogs during movement, pollute waterways through runoff and reduce connectivity between populations. Retain habitat links between ponds, stream pools and surrounding forest or woodland.

Threats: Hydrology and water quality

Draining wetlands, allowing breeding pools to dry before metamorphosis, changing stream flows or altering water chemistry can reduce recruitment. Small streams may dry before the extended larval period is complete.

Development runoff may carry sediment, fertilisers, pesticides or acid sulphate soil pollutants into breeding water. Maintain natural flow patterns where possible and use sediment and runoff controls before earthworks begin.

Threats: Disease

The amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, causes chytridiomycosis and has caused deaths in tusked frogs in Queensland. The disease can cause sporadic deaths or very high mortality in susceptible amphibian populations.

Use site-specific amphibian hygiene procedures for footwear, nets, traps, bags, vehicles and other equipment. Do not move frogs, tadpoles, water, mud or wet equipment between catchments without approved hygiene and quarantine controls.

Pathogen: Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

Known disease response: Adult frogs can die within weeks of experimental infection, while tadpoles may carry infection in their mouthparts without obvious illness

Threats: Predators, invasive species and climate

Mosquitofish can eliminate frog tadpoles and may damage tadpole fins. Cane toads may prey on native eggs, tadpoles and frogs, poison frogs that ingest their eggs or larvae, and compete for food or oxygen in breeding pools.

Climate-driven changes in rainfall can reduce reproduction and recruitment, while temperature and other environmental conditions can alter chytrid impacts. Fire is not identified as a direct species-specific threat in the supplied documents, but project planning should avoid removing the moist ground cover and refuge features used by frogs.

Survey methodology: 1. Aural and thorough waterbody surveys

Survey Tusked Frogs before clearing or construction where suitable breeding or refuge habitat may be affected. The species is cryptic when not calling, so surveys should focus on ponds, slow-moving stream sections, streamside debris and nearby terrestrial habitat.

Survey during warmer months, preferably from September to February and particularly early spring, when males are most likely to call.

Prioritise ponds, slow-moving sections of streams, unconnected streamside pools and areas with leaf litter, woody debris, low vegetation, hollows or crevices beside water.

Conduct surveys after rainfall on warm, humid and windless days or nights, with surface water present.

Avoid extended dry periods, very wet weather and periods when stream levels are above basal flow.

Search 300 metres per 1,000 metres of waterbody perimeter or stream, or 900 metres where less than 1,000 metres of suitable waterbody or stream is present.

Spend at least 20 minutes per 100 metres surveyed and spread the work over at least three nights.

Record the transect length, area searched, weather, water conditions, date, start and finish times, observers and all detections.

Search low vegetation, debris, cavities and crevices within or beside water, and look for adults, egg masses and tadpoles.

Tusked Frog calls are slow and soft, and may sound like ‘pluck’, ‘p-tuk’ or ‘p-t-t-tuk’.

Tadpoles can be difficult to identify to species level and may require specialist identification or rearing under the required permit.

Survey methodology: 2. Call playback

Use call playback where suitable breeding habitat is present and calling males may be difficult to detect by listening alone.

Complete two playback sessions per 5 hectares, or per 300 metres of habitat, with one session per night.

Use a standard sequence of two minutes listening, three minutes of playback, then two minutes listening.

Conduct two surveys under suitable weather and seasonal conditions.

Keep playback equipment and observers away from water edges where access would damage breeding or refuge habitat.

Survey methodology: 3. Acoustic recording

Deploy acoustic recorders close to suitable breeding habitat at the start of spring, preferably from early September.

Use two recorders per hectare, or two recorders per 50 metres of relevant habitat.

Leave recorders in place for one month, with the longer deployment period used where rainfall and calling conditions are variable.

Position recorders to reduce stream noise and analyse recordings for periods after rainfall when frogs are most likely to call.

Retain the recording locations, deployment dates, weather information and call identifications with the survey data.

Survey methodology: 4. Dip-netting and trapping

Use a small hand-held dip net to search ponds and unconnected streamside pools for tadpoles.

Where trapping is necessary, place arrays close to suitable breeding habitat because non-calling males move between water bodies.

Use four pitfall traps and six funnel traps per hectare for four nights, and repeat the trapping survey twice.

Check traps early each morning before temperatures become hot, provide shade and shelter, and close pitfall buckets if they begin to fill with water.

Minimise handling, release captured animals at the site of capture as soon as possible after identification, and follow hygiene procedures between sites to reduce pathogen spread.

Do not use trapping as the first method where aural, waterbody and dip-net surveys can provide suitable detection.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • Use the survey effort in the Queensland guideline as the minimum where suitable habitat is present, and repeat searches where habitat is limited or conditions were unsuitable.
  • Record negative results as well as detections, including the habitat searched, survey effort, weather, water level, equipment and observer details.
  • Photograph or otherwise document egg masses, tadpoles, adults, carcasses and suspected disease cases without unnecessary handling.
  • Use appropriately qualified personnel for species identification, tadpole identification, disease sampling and any trapping or handling.
  • Submit confirmed records, survey data and location information to the relevant state or territory wildlife database and meet any project approval reporting conditions.
  • Check current state and territory survey, collection, animal ethics and disease-control requirements before fieldwork.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise

Plan the project around the species’ dependence on both aquatic breeding sites and nearby terrestrial refuge habitat. Tusked Frogs use ponds, slow-moving stream sections, streamside debris, leaf litter, logs, hollows and rock crevices, and may also occur in disturbed areas and garden ponds.

Retain ponds, stream pools, slow-moving water, streamside pools and damp terrestrial habitat adjoining breeding sites.

Retain leaf litter, woody debris, logs, low vegetation, hollows and rock crevices beside water where these provide shelter or calling sites.

Avoid clearing or altering breeding sites and retain at least 50 metres of intact terrestrial habitat or buffer around aquatic habitat where practicable.

Protect riparian vegetation and maintain movement links between breeding waterbodies and terrestrial refuge areas.

Prevent sediment, fertiliser, pesticide, acid sulphate soil and other contaminated runoff from entering breeding habitat.

Avoid unnecessary changes to water flow, water levels and the physical or chemical properties of water.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and work planning

Confirm the current conservation status at the project location before works begin, because the species is listed as Vulnerable in Queensland and the Nandewar and New England Tablelands population is listed as Endangered under the NSW threatened species legislation described in the supplied material.

The species is not listed under the EPBC Act in the supplied profile, but screen the project for impacts on any other nationally listed species or ecological communities and refer the project if required.

Obtain state or territory permits for survey, capture, handling, relocation, collection or animal ethics activities where required.

Prepare a fauna management plan that identifies breeding habitat, terrestrial refuge habitat, movement routes, hygiene controls, fauna spotter catcher responsibilities, stop-work triggers and reporting requirements.

Schedule noisy or ground-disturbing work outside the main breeding period of September to April where practicable, and avoid winter disease-risk periods where works could spread chytrid between frog sites.

Stage works so that retained habitat and movement links remain available while each work area is cleared.

Before habitat disturbance: Site preparation

Complete the targeted pre-clearance surveys described in the survey methodology before vegetation or ground disturbance.

Mark no-go areas around ponds, stream pools, riparian habitat, logs, debris piles, rock crevices and other retained refuge features.

Install exclusion fencing only where it will not block movement to retained breeding habitat or trap frogs away from water, and inspect it regularly.

Clean and disinfect footwear, nets, traps, machinery contact points and other equipment before moving between frog habitats.

Brief machinery operators and the fauna spotter catcher on the species’ appearance, call, habitat, handling limits, hygiene procedures and stop-work triggers.

Keep an accessible register of approvals, survey results, marked habitat features, exclusion zones and daily inspections.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and machinery interface

Use a fauna spotter catcher to control the clearing sequence and respond to animals found during works. Work slowly around water, damp ground, logs, debris and other refuge features, and stop when the approved fauna management procedure requires it.

Inspect exclusion fencing, no-go areas, waterbodies and retained habitat at the start of each shift and after heavy rain or changes in water level.

Keep machinery outside marked aquatic buffers and no-go areas unless the fauna management plan specifically permits access.

Direct machinery to clear progressively towards retained habitat and away from ponds, stream pools and other suitable refuge areas.

Use the fauna spotter catcher to inspect each work area immediately before clearing and to remain in communication with the operator during slow, staged clearing.

Do not allow workers to chase, handle or move frogs unless they are authorised and trained under the project fauna management plan.

Stop work if a frog, suspected frog disease case, unexpected breeding site, mass mortality event or unsafe fauna handling situation is identified.

During habitat disturbance: Habitat features and aquatic areas

Treat logs, leaf litter, woody debris, rocks, cavities, crevices, low vegetation and damp ground beside water as potential refuge habitat.

Move retained logs, rocks or debris only where authorised, and inspect underneath and around them before disturbance.

Do not drain, fill, isolate or contaminate ponds, stream pools or unconnected pools without the required approval and a species-specific management procedure.

Prevent sediment, fuel, concrete washout, herbicide, pesticide and other pollutants from entering aquatic habitat.

Use clean equipment between sites, because amphibian chytrid fungus may be spread by contaminated animals, water, equipment or materials.

Do not undertake ad hoc habitat restoration or weed removal beside breeding sites during clearing unless the activity has been assessed and approved.

During habitat disturbance: If a Tusked Frog is found

Stop the immediate activity and keep machinery, vehicles, people and domestic animals away from the frog.

Have the fauna spotter catcher confirm the identification where possible, noting that the species is medium sized, may reach 50 millimetres, has a dark back, a butterfly-shaped head marking, a marbled black and white underside and red on the thighs and lower legs.

Avoid handling unless it is necessary for the animal’s safety, identification or an approved relocation procedure.

Use clean, dedicated or disinfected equipment and appropriate amphibian handling methods if handling is authorised.

Release a healthy frog at the point of capture as soon as possible after identification unless a permit or approved fauna management plan directs relocation to nearby retained habitat.

Do not move frogs to an unapproved site or between catchments, because movement can spread disease and may breach permit conditions.

Place an injured frog in a suitable ventilated container, keep it cool and shaded, and arrange prompt assessment by an authorised wildlife carer or veterinarian under the project procedure.

Record the location, habitat, time, condition, action taken, release location, photographs and people involved.

During habitat disturbance: Stop-work triggers and records

Stop work in the immediate area if a Tusked Frog is found in the active work zone and the fauna spotter catcher cannot safely clear the animal or confirm the approved response.

Stop work and notify the environmental representative if frogs are found in greater numbers than predicted, if a breeding site is discovered, or if deaths or signs of chytridiomycosis are observed.

Record daily inspections, weather, rainfall, water levels, exclusion-fence condition, clearing areas, fauna observations, captures, relocations, injuries, mortalities and incidents.

Notify the relevant regulator, approval holder or wildlife authority where a permit, approval or disease-response procedure requires notification.

Review the clearing method before restarting and update the fauna management plan if the actual habitat or fauna response differs from the pre-clearance assessment.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance checks

Complete follow-up checks before removing controls or signing off the work area. The aim is to confirm that frogs, breeding habitat, movement links and water quality have not been overlooked or left exposed to ongoing project impacts.

Inspect the cleared area, retained buffers, exclusion fencing and nearby ponds or stream pools after each clearing stage.

Search disturbed edges, debris piles, machinery routes, drains and wet depressions for frogs, injured animals, carcasses and newly exposed refuge habitat.

Repair or extend exclusion fencing where it is damaged, creates a trap, or directs frogs away from retained habitat.

Remove temporary materials, waste and sediment controls only when they no longer threaten aquatic or terrestrial refuge habitat and the environmental representative approves removal.

Confirm that no logs, rocks, leaf litter or other retained refuge features have been unnecessarily removed or buried.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and reporting

Monitor retained breeding habitat and nearby terrestrial refuge areas during the next suitable warm, wet survey period, particularly from September to February.

Use repeat aural searches, thorough waterbody searches, call playback or acoustic recording where the project approval or fauna management plan requires post-work monitoring.

Record changes in water flow, water quality, vegetation, sediment, refuge features, frog activity, disease signs and invasive species.

Submit confirmed records, mortalities, incidents and monitoring results to the relevant state or territory wildlife database and approval agencies where required.

Keep records of all fauna spotter catcher actions, releases, veterinary or wildlife-carer referrals, and corrective actions.

After habitat disturbance: Ongoing controls and offsets

Maintain aquatic buffers, movement links, sediment controls, pollution controls and pathogen hygiene controls for as long as the project could affect Tusk Frog habitat.

Continue weed, invasive fish and cane toad controls where these are identified threats in the retained habitat and the control method is safe for frogs.

Assess whether residual impacts remain after avoidance, mitigation and rehabilitation measures are complete.

Implement any approved offset, compensatory habitat, restoration or conservation payment requirement under the relevant state, territory or Commonwealth approval.

Use monitoring results to revise site controls if frog activity declines, breeding habitat degrades or chytrid risk increases.

Rehabilitation actions: Aquatic and terrestrial habitat

Rehabilitation should restore connected aquatic and terrestrial habitat rather than creating an isolated pond. Tusked Frogs breed in ponds and slow-moving stream sections, use streamside cover, and need nearby terrestrial shelter during dry periods.

Reinstate or protect ponds, slow-moving stream sections and streamside pools with suitable surface water during the breeding period.

Design wet areas to retain water long enough for tadpoles to develop, noting that the captive larval period is at least 50 days.

Retain or re-establish at least 50 metres of intact terrestrial habitat or buffer around aquatic breeding areas where practicable.

Use locally appropriate wet forest, rainforest, wet or dry sclerophyll, woodland and riparian vegetation suited to the site rather than relying on a single planting type.

Re-establish low vegetation, leaf litter, woody debris, logs, rocks, hollows and crevices beside water for shelter and calling sites.

Maintain connections between breeding waterbodies and nearby terrestrial refuge habitat, including across infrastructure where approved fauna movement measures are required.

Rehabilitation actions: Threat and disease management

Control weeds without contaminating water or removing all ground cover and refuge features.

Prevent sediment, fertiliser, pesticide, acid sulphate soil and other runoff from entering restored breeding habitat.

Control invasive predatory fish such as mosquitofish and cane toads where they occur and where control is approved and safe for native frogs.

Use strict hygiene procedures for staff, footwear, nets, traps, plant and other equipment moving between frog habitats.

Avoid returning frogs, tadpoles, water, soil or aquatic material from one site to another unless specifically authorised under a disease-control and translocation procedure.

Manage fire and fuel reduction so that retained aquatic and terrestrial refuge habitat is not unnecessarily burnt, dried or fragmented, and obtain ecological advice before planned burning.

Rehabilitation actions: Monitoring and success measures

Monitor restored ponds, stream pools and adjacent terrestrial habitat through at least two suitable breeding seasons where the approval requires establishment monitoring.

Use aural searches, thorough waterbody searches, call playback and acoustic recording to assess adult presence and calling activity.

Check for egg masses, tadpoles and metamorphs, and document whether breeding habitat retains water for the required larval period.

Measure survival of planted vegetation, retention of logs and rocks, ground cover, buffer condition, connectivity, water quality, sediment accumulation and invasive species presence.

Treat confirmed Tusk Frog presence, repeated calling, breeding evidence and stable water and refuge conditions as positive indicators, subject to the approved rehabilitation criteria.

Submit monitoring results and confirmed records to the relevant state or territory wildlife database and report failures or corrective actions to the approval holder and regulator.

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