This blog is for sharing our news with family and friends. We'd like your feedback - don't be shy, post your comments using the links at the bottom of each post.

Friday, August 22, 2008

And we'll be living in a wild life sanctuary

Found out why it's called Red-Crowned Court.
Apparently the garden is half native plantings, and has to be maintained as such forever, because it's a protected habitat for the endangered Red-crowned toadlet or Pseudophryne australis

Red-crowned Toadlet Fact File
Despite its name, this is not a toad but a colourful little frog. It is restricted to the Hawkesbury sandstone areas surrounding Sydney. It is easy to identify by the bright orange-red triangle or 'T' shape on its head and a stripe on its lower back of the same colour. On its belly is a striking, marbled, black and white pattern.
The calls of Red-crowned Toadlets can be heard all year round. They call several times in quick succession, as these frogs commonly live in small colonies and answer each other.
The Red-crowned Toadlet breeds in damp leaf litter. Hatching occurs when the tadpoles are well developed and the site has had heavy rainfall. Until then, the male frog usually stays close to the developing eggs, but this is probably to defend the breeding site rather than the eggs.
Distribution:Sydney.
Habitat: Forests and woodlands, heath (Hawkesbury sandstone only).
Status: Uncommon
Size: Up to 3 cm.

No comments: