Terrestrial Breeding in the Australian Leptodactylid Frog Myobatrachus gouldii (Gray)

Abstract

M. gouldii is widespread in south-west Western Australia. Males call on the soil surface after rain in spring and in early and late summer. Females orient to calling males but amplexus does not occur on the surface. Egg size and number, and egg deposition sites 1 m deep in sand, are described; the male call and the distribution of calling males are documented, with preliminary data on breeding seasons and surface activity. M. gouldii is a terrestrial breeder with probable intracapsular, direct development, as has long been suspected.