The motorbike frog is a ground-dwelling tree frog found in Southwest Australia. It gets its name from the male frog's mating call, which sounds like a motorbike riding past and changing gears. Other common names are Moore's frog, the western bell frog, western green and golden bell frog, and western green tree frog.
Back varies from pale brown to dark chocolate with areas of deep green or olive, red colouration in the groin and hind limbs.
Tadpoles
Large, black with deep tail fins.
Distinctive feature
Large protruding oval gland on the upper surface of the calf.
Size
Males 2.8 - 6.4 cm, females 5.4 - 7.3 cm.
Behaviour
Call
A deep and explosive “bonk”.
Listen to the Western Banjo Frog call © Dale Roberts
Diet
Mostly insects and worms.
Movement
Burrowing species that submerges itself during dry conditions.
Breeding
Spawn laid in winter and spring in a large foam nest on the surface of still or slowly moving water.
Field Guide
Improve your identification skills. Download your Western Banjo Frog field guide here!
