Diet

What does Hochstetter's Frog eat?

Hochstetter's frog is a carnivore. They will feed on a range of small invertebrates.

Learn more about Hochstetter's Frog in this video from

Conservation Volunteers NZ on YouTube

Range

Where do you find Hochstetter's Frog?

New Zealand is the native home of the Hochstetter's frog. This species occurs as a range of small populations across the North Island. They also occur offshore on Great Barrier Island.

In New Zealand there are only four species of native frog. A further three have been introduced.

Habitat

Where can Hochstetter's Frog survive?

Hochstetter's frog can be found in areas of forest and wetland habitat. They are a semi-aquatic species which will be found in streams during their larval stage.

They have shown the ability to survive for short periods of time in modified habitats such as pine plantations for forestry.

These animals take shelter under rocks or boulders.

Credit: Public Domain

Reproduction

How does Hochstetter's Frog produce its young?

They will deposit their eggs in to a cluster laid in a damp, shady area. Hatchlings remain in the water-filled capsule in which they were laid. Each clutch includes around 20 eggs.

Hatchlings will not feed during their larval or tadpole stage but are active during this time. They will wait till they are adults to feed. At hatching the young have well developed back legs.

It may take them 3-4 years to complete their full metamorphosis.

Sexual maturity is achieved by a year old.

Females tend to produce one clutch every two years.

Behavior

What does Hochstetter's Frog do during its day?

This species is unable to croak as they lack a vocal sac. Their only vocalization is a quiet squeak which is emitted on rare occasions.

These frogs are primarily active by night. They will shelter in protected areas during the day.

Credit: David M. Green, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

Predators and Threats

What stops Hochstetter's Frog from surviving and thriving?

They are consumed by introduced predators such as rats, hedgehogs, possums and stoats.

Numbers of the Hochstetter's frog are declining across their range. While the total population is estimated to include 100,000 individuals some small subpopulations have dropped to as few as 250 individuals.

A number of threats to this species are recognized. A major factor in their decline has been the loss and modification of their habitat. Mining is proposed for one stronghold of this species and may impact them.

Along with predation introduced species such as deer will cause habitat degradation.

Some populations persist in man-made habitats such as pine plantations. These populations are at risk of being wiped out when these forests are logged for plantation timbers.

This species is found in a number of protected areas.

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Quick facts

This species is considered to be one of the most primitive frog species. A range of their characteristics are shared with frogs which are an ancestor of the amphibian.

Native frogs from New Zealand are thought to have changed little over the last 70 million years.

Credit: Reallyoriginalusername, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons