As giant meat-eating lizards stomped through the jungles frightening the life out of their prey, small species of frog had already been contentedly inhabiting the planet for 100 million years or so. New Zealand was then just floating away from Gondwanaland and the frogs, not needing to evolve, didn't. So they sat there with their unique features; having round (not slit) eyes, hatching straight into an almost fully-formed frog instead of tadpoles, having no external ear drums, and not croaking regularly like most frogs. Scientists believe that these frogs evolved about 200 million years ago, making them as unique as the tuatara.

There are now just four species of native frogs (pepeketua) and three species of introduced frogs in New Zealand. All New Zealand's unique native species (in the genus Leiopelma), as well as two of the introduced species, the Green and Golden Bell Frog and Southern Bell Frog (genus Litoria), are listed as threatened or endangered in the recent IUCN Global Amphibian Assessment.

New Zealand has the most ancient frog species in the world, yet they are now under threat from a new killer that science is struggling to combat: the chytrid fungus.

Archey's Frog

Hochstetter's Frog

Hamilton's Frog

Maud Island Frog

Click image to hear frog call

Green and Golden Bell Frog

Brown Tree Frog

Southern Bell Frog

Archey's frog (Leiopelma archeyi) is the smallest native frog, growing up to 37mm long. It lives in misty, moist areas around 400m in altitude. Unfortunately the native Archey's frog population has been found to be infected with the chytrid fungus, believed to be responsible for a rapid decline in many other amphibian species.

Hochstetter's frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri) is the most widespread native species and grows up to 48mm long. It has partially webbed feet, more warts than the other frogs, and is generally dark brown.

Hamilton's frog (Leiopelma hamiltoni) is one of the rarest frogs in the world with a population estimate of about 300 individuals and it is only found on a few hundred square metres of rocky ground on the summit of a single islet (Stephens Island) in Cook Strait. Grows up to 49mm long.

Maud Island frog (Leiopelma pakeka) is only found on Maud Island in the Marlborough Sounds. Some of these frogs have recently been transferred to Motuara Island.

Pinpointing the causes of the decline is difficult, because many different factors may work together to harm frogs;

Although the actions we take as individuals may seem small, together we can make an enormous difference to the plight of these unique creatures;

Habitat destruction and fragmentation is probably the main cause of amphibian deaths worldwide,

Dont 'bush-bash' when off-roading to avoid further fragmentation of habitats. Roads and agricultural land are significant barriers to amphibians.

Forestry and agriculture take a major toll on frog populations as they alter or detroy the frogs natural habitat.

Fence rivers and streams to prevent cattle trampling these sensitive areas.

Herbicides and pesticides often cause developmental abnormalities or fatalities. The widely used and apparently safe herbicide "Roundup" has been found to be extremely toxic to tadpoles and adult frogs.

Remove weeds by hand (and compost them) and try to use organic growing practices to control pests.

Fertilisers containing Ammonium nitrate can cause agonizing death for frogs.

Use a compost bin to dispose of all your organic waste and use the resulting compost to fertilise your garden instead of using chemicals.

The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis causing deformity, ulceration and internal bleeding leading to death.

Check, Clean, Dry all your equipment when moving between waterways to stop the spread of this fungus (and didymo too!).

Never keep frogs as pets, Godley Head pond is contaminated with chytrid fungus, other sites might be too. Never release pet frogs into the wild or relocate them to different areas of the country.

Lack of knowledge about the animals current distribution.

Report sightings of native frogs to DoC: Record carefully the location, the type of habitat (stream edge, forest floor), the time and date you sighted them, and if possible take photographs. Avoid touching the frogs, because you may damage their sensitive skin.

Make a donation to support research into frog biology and the causes of their decline to the New Zealand Frog Research Group (NZFRoG).

28 September to 4 October 2008
To promote public awareness of the importance of frogs and their declines, and the conservation of New Zealand’s unique frogs, the Native Frog Recovery Group decided to host a New Zealand Frog Week. During the week there will be displays, workshops, live frogs and talks by experts in frog biology at many regional centres around the country.

Jeff Corwin: asks for teachers help in 2008 - The Year of the Frog.

New Zealand Frog Research Group (NZFROG): provides information and resources for people who are interested in our amphibians.

Department of Environment & Climate Change (NSW): explains Chytrid fungus.

Global Amphibian Assessment: lets you search for information on the worlds frogs.

Department of Conservation: tells you all about pepeketua, New Zealand's native frogs.

Royal Society of New Zealand: has the Alpha 125 magazine - Frogs at Risk.

Otago University: operates the New Zealand Frog Survey.