Giant barred frog (Mixophyes iteratus) - endangered species listing

The Scientific Committee, established under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, has made a Final Determination to list the Giant Barred Frog, Mixophyes iteratus Straughan 1968 as an ENDANGERED SPECIES on Part 1 of Schedule 1 of that Act and, as a consequence, to omit reference to that species as a vulnerable species from Schedule 2 of that Act.

NSW Scientific Committee - final determination

This final determination has been superseded by the April 2024 determination for Mixophyes iteratus Straughan, 1968.

The Scientific Committee has found that:

1. The Giant Barred Frog, Mixophyes iteratus is known from the Conondale Range in south-east Queensland south to the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. A reported sighting from near Narooma has never been confirmed.

2. The species is associated with permanent flowing drainages, from shallow rocky rainforest streams to slow-moving rivers in lowland open forest. It is not known to utilise still water areas.

3. The Giant Barred Frog is not restricted to particular vegetation forms, utilising rainforest, and to a lesser degree wet sclerophyll forest and cleared land. In riparian areas adults are found where vegetation cover is present.

4. Declines in both the size and number of populations occurred over much of the species' known historical range during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The decline has been most severe within the Blue Mountains at the southern limit of its range and the Central Coast. It remains present in scattered locations north to the Richmond Ranges.

5. Within NSW the Giant Barred Frog appears to have contracted to the Dorrigo Plateau, the ranges west of Coffs Harbour and Washpool National Park where it now tends to be found in very small disjunct populations, whereas it was once more widely distributed. At some of these locations it remains abundant. Additionally, it is known from Manning River drainage, Mebbin National Park, the upper Tweed River, the Bungawalbyn area and Whian Whian National Park.

6. The reasons for the decline of Mixophyes iteratus are not known, although a number of potential impacts have occurred within the species' range. Dead and dying individuals of this species were found within Queensland in recent years, suggesting the impact of a pathogen over at least some of its range.

7. In view of 3, 4 & 5 above the Scientific Committee is of the opinion that the Giant Barred Frog, Mixophyes iteratus Straughan 1968 is likely to become extinct in nature in New South Wales unless the circumstances and factors threatening its survival or evolutionary development cease to operate.

Proposed Gazettal date: 13/8/99
Exhibition period: 13/8/99 - 17/9/99