Frogs of Sydney

Sydney has a wide variety of habitats that suit a diverse range of frogs. Although our city region has nearly all

been disturbed or greatly altered by humans, there are still over twenty different species of frogs that can be

found in and around the city limits. This poster introduces you to most of them. Apart from the Red-crowned

Toadlet, all these frogs are also found outside of the Sydney region. Seven are ground frogs that do not

normally climb and don’t have discs on their fingers and toes, and the remainder are tree frogs, some of which

are climbers and live in trees, the guttering and pipes around houses (or even toilets) and others which have

adapted to living on the ground. Depending on their need to climb, they have larger or smaller discs on their

fingers and toes.

Some frogs are threatened, such as the unique Red-crowned Toadlet known only from the Sydney Basin, and

others are in decline as a result of habitat loss and/or a disease known as ‘chytrid’ (pronounced kitrid) fungus,

that is specific to frogs and is sweeping through many populations all round the world. Despite this, some

frogs are still quite common, and although they may have come in contact with this fungus, they appear to be 

much less affected by it. 

The four frogs you are most likely to see in gardens, bushland or semi-rural areas where there are ponds or

dams, are shown here in the top row of photographs. The first two are ground frogs, and being the most

common, they are likely to be the first to colonise a frog-friendly garden pond. The next two are tree frogs

and like more bushy suburbs or semi-rural areas where there are trees and dams.

Click here for Additional Images of Frogs and Tadpoles by Marion Anstis