Unidentified

Hi Dave, Although the common eastern froglet, Crinia signifera, sometimes has black and white marbling underneath, I think I can see a bit of yellow near the vent on your critter, which would make it a Pseudophryne, which is much less common and not often seen. I've suggested the species known to be in the region (see here for a discussion of it: https://atlasoflife.naturemapr.org/sightings/3398098) but I'm not game to confirm it. My frogs and reptiles guide says that Pseudophryne species often play dead as a form of defence, so it is possible yours was doing this and just snuck off while your backs were turned, rather than being eaten by something.

I am pretty sure you are right. I saw Dendy's Toadlet on the website, but I thought this wasn't it because it didn't have yellow shoulders. And it didn't seem very 'toady'. But when I zoomed right in in the photo there is definitely yellow in the armpit. That plus the blue spotty underside seems pretty definite.
If it was playing dead, then it gets congratulations from me because I was totally convinced. I picked it up and put it down, it did not move in the slightest.

Yep, I can see that little bit of yellow in the armpit when I zoom in too. But I'll wait and see if Patrick confirms it. I'm not that expert on frogs, just got lots of books.

I'm not sure about this one Jackie. Pseudophryne dendyi and P. bibronii look similar and as we only have this ventral shot to go on, I can't confidently make a positive ID on this. Pseudophryne bibronii can usually be distinguished from P. dendyi by a pair of boomerang-shaped ridges over the shoulder, however this feature is only visible on the dorsum.

The tops of the arms at the shoulder and the backs of the thighs of Pseudophryne dendyi are often bright yellow. Whereas, Pseudophryne bibronii lacks bright yellow and generally has a duller yellow on the tops of the arms at the shoulder. This specimen does not seem to have bright yellow.

Hi Patrick, If you click on the link to the other local Pseudophryne sighting in my 1st comment above, there is some discussion which culminates in Will Osborne informing us that P. bibronii does not come south of Jervis Bay on the coast, and therefore dendyi is our only option down here. I don't think that is what the books say, but it would certainly simplify things if correct. The animal in that sighting was certainly a nice bright yellow. Hard to say re this one though with only a ventral view. Should have turned it over Dave! It's always good to photograph any plant or animal from a few angles.

Hi Jackie. According to Marion Anstis and Hal Cogger, Pseudophryne bibronii is found down into Victoria, including it seems along the coast. The maps in their texts show generalized distribution, so are probably not as detailed as Will's local knowledge. However, there are five Pseudophryne bibronii records lodged within 10 km of the coordinates given, on the Atlas of Living Australia database, one of which was lodged by NPWS.
So given the fact that we have conflicting information on whether or not P. bibronii are found in the area and all we have to go on is this belly shot, I can't positively ID this sighting.
Happy to agree it's Pseudophryne sp. though. :)

Yep, fair enough. I'll create that category and confirm it.

Thanks Jackie. Much appreciated.

A significant find Dave considering that Pseudophryne seem to becoming less common. Well done!

BTW - Love the name Frogs Hollow, which one hopes continues to be appropriately named.