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Northern Gastric Brooding Frog

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description Northern Gastric Brooding Frog Overview

The Northern Gastric Brooding Frog was an aquatic amphibian native to the rainforest streams of Eungella National Park in Queensland, Australia. Discovered in 1984, it is notable for its unique reproductive method, where females swallowed their fertilized eggs and gave birth to fully formed froglets through their mouths. The species was only observed in the wild for a single year before disappearing, representing a notably rapid vertebrate extinction.

help Northern Gastric Brooding Frog FAQ

How did the northern gastric-brooding frog reproduce?

After fertilization, the female swallowed the eggs and brooded the developing young inside her stomach. Her digestive activity was suppressed during gestation, and fully formed froglets later emerged through her mouth.

Where was Rheobatrachus vitellinus found?

The species lived in rainforest streams in Queensland's Eungella region. It had a very restricted range and was discovered by scientists only in 1984.

Was the northern gastric-brooding frog last seen in the year it was discovered?

No, although it was discovered in 1984, records place its disappearance after that year, with the last confirmed observations generally reported in the mid-1980s. It was never found again despite later searches in the Eungella ranges.

What probably caused the northern gastric-brooding frog's extinction?

Chytridiomycosis, caused by the amphibian chytrid fungus, is considered a leading explanation for its rapid disappearance. The related southern gastric-brooding frog also vanished, leaving no living species in the genus Rheobatrachus.

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