Common Name: Black Mountain Boulder Frog, Rock Haunting Frog, Rock Frog
Scientific Name: Cophixalus saxatilis
Family: Microhylidae – Narrow Mouth Toad family
Locations: Australia
Size: 1.96 inches (5 cm)
The Black Mountain Boulder Frog lives in the Black Mountain National Park and the surrounding areas in Northeastern Australia. They live specifically in boulder fields of the Black Trevathan Range.
The frog breeds between October and March, peaking in November and December following rain. Female frogs lay their eggs on land under rocks. The males of the species protect the eggs until they hatch. From the eggs emerge tiny froglets, meaning they skip a free tadpole stage.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assesses the Black Mountain Boulder Frog as Least Concern for Extinction. The frog has a very small range and a very specific habitat requirements. This has lead to it being labeled as Vulnerable to Extinction in the past but the population is stable and they are in a protected area.
