The Sloane’s Froglet is a tiny frog species, with a body size of up to 2 cm. Due to size of the froglet the best way to know if the species is present at a site is by listening for its distinctive “chick, chick chick” call that males make from autumn through to spring.
Sloane's Froglet Calls
Video/Photo Credit: David Hunter DPIE
They are a dynamic frog species and can be found in a wide range of natural and constructed wetlands across Albury. Some key features that Sloane’s Froglet prefer and utilise for breeding include:
- Locations that are subject to periodic inundation like a Gilgai (a type of wetland)
- Wetlands that contain areas of shallow water (that are vegetated) and have gentle sloping banks and
- The presence of structured and small-stemmed vegetation, which is really important for the attachment of eggs (e.g Common Spike Rush Eleocharis acuta)
Environmental Lands Network
The Environmental Lands Network managed by AlburyCity plays an important role in the ongoing protection of the Sloane’s Froglet. These natural areas provide corridors for the species to disperse across the landscape and wetlands to use as refuge in the drier summer months. Other locations in Albury where you can find the species include Mungabareena Reserve and Wonga Wetlands.
Sloane’s Froglet Stormwater Wetlands
To help ensure a viable Sloane’s Froglet population into the future, AlburyCity has worked with the NSW Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Environment’s biodiversity team to implement the Sloane’s Froglet Stormwater Wetland Design Guidelines. These guidelines acknowledge that the environmental network alone is not enough to support the species and that there is a need to create connected breeding habitat on developable land.
Since the implementation of the guidelines, development (that has a requirement to implement a storm water system) that is within the Sloane’s Froglet LAMP area (Local Area Management Plan) requires the construction of wetlands that provide suitable breeding habitat for Sloane’s Froglet whilst still providing the water quality outcomes that are required per state regulations.
