Notaden melanoscaphus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AMPHIBIA	ANURA	LIMNODYNASTIDAE

Scientific Name:

Notaden melanoscaphus

Species Authority:

Hosmer, 1962

Common Name/s:

English

–

Northern Spadefoot Toad

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2004

Assessor/s:

Jean-Marc Hero, Paul Horner, Dale Roberts

Reviewer/s:

Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team (Simon Stuart, Janice Chanson and Neil Cox)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because its population is not believed to be in decline at present.

History:

2002

–

Least Concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This Australian endemic is known from the northwestern Kimberley region of Western Australia, northern Northern Territory and into Cape York Peninsula of Queensland. It is also known from the Townsville region in Queensland. This region is very flat so the species is known only from low elevations. The extent of occurrence of the species is approximately 772,000km2.
Countries:	Native: Australia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is a common species.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The species is found in sparsely timbered savannah, sclerophyll woodland and grassland on clay soils. It spends most of its life buried underground and emerges only after heavy rain when it can be found on low-lying swampy ground, which remains saturated after rain. It breeds after heavy rains in shallow flooded areas. Males call whilst floating in water and their bodies are inflated with air from their distended lungs. About 500-1400 eggs are laid in long chains tangled in submerged vegetation. Tadpoles hatch and complete development in 8 weeks.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

The species is found in sparsely timbered savannah, sclerophyll woodland and grassland on clay soils. It spends most of its life buried underground and emerges only after heavy rain when it can be found on low-lying swampy ground, which remains saturated after rain. It breeds after heavy rains in shallow flooded areas. Males call whilst floating in water and their bodies are inflated with air from their distended lungs. About 500-1400 eggs are laid in long chains tangled in submerged vegetation. Tadpoles hatch and complete development in 8 weeks.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to this species.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to this species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The range of the species overlaps several protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

The range of the species overlaps several protected areas.

Bibliography [top]

	Barker, J., Grigg, G. and Tyler, M. 1995. A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty and Sons Pty Ltd, New South Wales. Cogger, H.G. 1992. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed Books, New South Wales. IUCN. 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 23 November 2004. Tyler, M.J., Smith, L.A. and Johnstone, R.E. 1994. Frogs of Western Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth.

Barker, J., Grigg, G. and Tyler, M. 1995. A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty and Sons Pty Ltd, New South Wales.

Cogger, H.G. 1992. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed Books, New South Wales.

IUCN. 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 23 November 2004.

Tyler, M.J., Smith, L.A. and Johnstone, R.E. 1994. Frogs of Western Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth.

Citation:	Jean-Marc Hero, Paul Horner, Dale Roberts 2004. Notaden melanoscaphus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2013.
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