Common eastern froglet fact sheet | Field of Mars EEC

What is a common eastern froglet?

Common eastern froglets are tiny ground-dwelling frogs that are often heard before they are seen. Their repeated “crick-crick-crick” call can sound like a cricket calling from wet grass, leaf litter or the edge of a pond.

They are one of the most common frogs in eastern Australia and can live in many damp places, including bushland, gardens, drains, puddles, ponds and creek edges. Their colours and markings can vary, helping them blend into wet leaves, soil, bark and grass. The Darug people of the Sydney basin refer to frogs like this species as gunggung.

A common eastern froglet

Even though common eastern froglets vary in body colour, they all have gold irises.

Where do common eastern froglets live?

Common eastern froglets live in many damp habitats across eastern Australia. They can be found in forests, woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, gardens and urban areas, especially where there is shelter close to water.

They often hide under logs, rocks, plants and leaf litter. These damp shelters help protect their skin from drying out and give them places to hide from predators. Their small size, mottled colours and variable markings help them blend into the ground, making them hard to spot among wet leaves, bark, soil and grass. Common eastern froglets can also be found in disturbed areas, provided there is moisture, shelter and suitable water for breeding.

Common eastern froglets can be found in freshwater ponds like this one in Lane Cove National Park near Field of Mars Reserve.

What do common eastern froglets eat?

Common eastern froglets eat small invertebrates. Their food may include mosquitoes, moths, cockroaches, flies, ants, small spiders and other tiny animals found in damp leaf litter or low vegetation.

Like other frogs, they catch prey using quick movement and a sticky tongue. They are also part of the food web themselves, providing food for birds, reptiles, larger frogs and aquatic predators.

Common eastern froglets feed on tiny invertebrates found in damp leaf litter and low vegetation.

What do common eastern froglets sound like?

Common eastern froglets make a repeated “crick-crick-crick” call. Males usually call from damp ground, shallow water, wet grass, drains or the edge of ponds.

They can call during the day or night and may be heard throughout the year, especially after rain or when the ground is damp.

Male common eastern froglets call from damp ground, shallow water or the edges of ponds.

What is the life cycle of a common eastern froglet?

Common eastern froglets lay eggs in water. Eggs are laid in small clusters of about 100 to 150 eggs in many kinds of water bodies, including ponds, dams, flooded ditches, streams and wet grassland.

The eggs hatch into tadpoles. Tadpoles live in shallow water, usually near the bottom, and breathe through gills. As they grow, they develop back legs, front legs and lungs. During the metamorph stage, their tails shrink as they change into tiny froglets. Tadpoles can reach about 3.5 centimetres long and usually take about two and a half to three months to develop into frogs, although timing can vary with conditions.

Common eastern froglet tadpoles grow legs and lungs before changing into tiny froglets.

What adaptations do common eastern froglets have to help them survive?

Common eastern froglets are small, well camouflaged and difficult to see. Their brown, grey, cream, reddish or mustard colours help them hide among wet leaves, bark, soil and grass.

They can also use many different damp habitats, including natural wetlands, bushland creeks, garden ponds, puddles and drains. This helps them survive in bushland and urban environments, as long as there is moisture, shelter and suitable water for breeding.

Common eastern froglets appear to be more tolerant of amphibian chytrid fungus than many more sensitive frog species. This does not mean they are unaffected by disease, but it may help explain why the species remains widespread while some other frogs have declined.

Mottled colours help common eastern froglets hide among wet leaves, bark, soil and grass.

Why are common eastern froglets important?

Common eastern froglets help control small invertebrates such as flies, mosquitoes and moths. They are also food for other animals, including birds, reptiles, larger frogs and aquatic predators.

Frogs are sensitive to changes in their environment because they need clean water, damp shelter and healthy breeding places. Hearing common eastern froglets calling can be a sign that suitable frog habitat is present.

Common eastern froglets are part of wetland and bushland food webs.

How can you help common eastern froglets?

You can help common eastern froglets by protecting damp, shady habitat. Leave leaf litter, fallen logs and rocks in safe bushland or garden areas so frogs have places to shelter.

Avoid using pesticides near ponds, drains and damp ground. Keep waterways clean and listen for frog calls after rain. Recording frog calls with citizen science tools such as FrogID can help scientists understand where frogs are living and breeding.

Healthy ponds, leaf litter and chemical-free gardens can support common eastern froglets.

Related fact sheets

More amphibian fact sheets

• Amphibians fact sheet – overview of frogs and other amphibians.
• Striped marsh frog fact sheet – another frog that breeds in ponds, wetlands and slow-moving water.

• Red-crowned toadlet fact sheet – another small Sydney frog found in damp sandstone habitats.

Habitats and ecosystems

• Water habitats fact sheet – shows why frogs need clean water for eggs, tadpoles and survival.
• Leaf litter habitats fact sheet – explains why fallen leaves provide shelter for small animals.
• Ground cover habitats fact sheet – explains how low plants and grasses support frogs and other wildlife.
• Eucalypt forest fact sheet – explores forest habitats with leaf litter, logs and shelter for ground-dwelling animals.
• Field of Mars Reserve fact sheet – explores local bushland, wetlands and habitats where frogs may live.

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