The Motorbike Frog is by far the most commonly encountered frog in Perth. If you hear or see Kyooya in an urban area, it means the local environment is doing well.
Threats: Habitat loss and predation by cats and foxes
Will they visit?: Motorbike Frogs will visit home gardens and reside in large frog ponds
Natural Distribution: Common and widespread through out the South West and Perth region
Motorbike Frog – (C) Perth NRM
Motorbike Frog – (C) Perth NRM
Motorbike Frog – (C) Perth NRM
Motorbike Frog – (C) Jason Pitman
Motorbike Frog – (C) Georgina Steytler
Motor Bike Frog – (C) Perth NRM
Motorbike Frog – (C) Kit Prendergast
Habitat at a Glance
See Habitat Guide for more detail
Shelter: Damplands, leaf litter, logs, rock crevices, and frog hotels
Diet: Invertebrates and small animals (e.g. other frogs)
Water: Large frog ponds
ReWild Benefit: Pest control and an environmental indicator
Habitat Guide - Shelter
Natural Shelter
The Motorbike Frog is the most commonly encountered frog in Perth. They are large, can climb well, and come in a wide variety of colours from green, brown, to almost black. A garden with fallen logs, rockeries, thick mulch, dense shrubs and trees will provide additional habitat around the garden. They like to climb, so tall shrubs and trees will provide foraging and sheltering habitat. A dampland will provide cool wet habitat during the dry seasons.
Novel Shelter
Below is a frog hotel template. Ideally, a frog hotel for a Motorbike Frog should be located in shaded areas. Ensure the hotel is inaccessible to resident dogs or cats. Before you build:
Use chlorine free water by using water conditioner or standing a bucket of tap water outdoors for a minimum of 24 hours.
Keep away from treated timber as this can emit fumes toxic to wildlife.
There should be no standing water as this is a breeding site for mosquitos.
Habitat Guide - Food and Water
Providing natural sources of food
Motorbike Frogs eat invertebrates including insects, spiders, worms, and snails and small animals including other frogs and even mice! A dampland, frog pond, and an array of native shrubs, trees, and groundcovers will attract invertebrates to the garden. Solar lights in the garden will also attract flying insects and provide additional foraging habitat for Motorbike Frogs.
Providing sources of water
Motorbike Frogs require well vegetated frog ponds with varying depths. They are fairly adaptable and have been known to breed in all types of standing water – even buckets! Below is a template for a suitable frog pond. Before you build:
Frogs are incredibly noisy, please be courteous of neighbors and peoples bedrooms.
Use chlorine free water by using water conditioner or standing a bucket of tap water outdoors for a minimum of 24 hours.
Include native fish in the pond to control mosquito larvae.
ReWild Benefits
Their calls are distinctive and sound similar to a motorbike changing gears. Frogs and their tadpoles are sensitive critters. Our native frogs are environmental indicators. Evidence of frogs in an urban area means the local environment has good ecological function. Frogs are critical for the environment as they help to control many pest species and provide food for other animals such as birds. If you have frogs in the garden you can record their call via Frog ID to help scientists monitor their population.
