Notaden bennettii: The Super Cute Holy Cross Frog

Welcome to another post of my strange animals series where you get to meet some of the weirdest, coolest, and craziest animals on a daily basis!

Today I want to talk about a cute, round and tiny frog that is commonly known as the crucifix toad or holy cross frog. Wonder why it has such a bizarre name? That's why:

(credit)

Scientifically described as Notaden bennettii, this quarter-sized creature is one of the few Australian frogs that doesn't rely on camouflage to avoid predation. On the contrary, the bright colors make the frog's presence loud and clear!

Could there be a reason for this? Keep reading if you want to find out!!

Where Can I Find One?

This colorful toad occurs in the semi-arid grasslands and black soil plains of the central inland New South Wales and the interior of southern Queensland, west of the Great Dividing Range, occupying an area of about 615,000 km2.

Confused? This will help:

Map showing the distribution of N. bennettii [1]

However, this map alone won't help you much in finding one. Why? Like all frogs, this little guy needs plenty of water but its habitat is essentially a dry desert for most part of the year.

To survive, individuals spend most of their lives underground, encased in a cocoon that helps them retain their moisture, emerging only in times of heavy rain. So, don't forget your umbrella if you go searching for one!

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How big does it get?

These round creatures have a length ranging from 4.5 cm to 6.5 cm, with females being slightly larger than males.

Holy cross frog vs an australian 20c coin. It's so cute I wanna squish it. And no I am not sick. It's called cute aggression and it's a real thing. Google it! (credit)

What's with the bright colors?

Most frogs in Australia rely on camouflage to avoid predation but this guy is different. Instead, it relies on a defensive mechanism called aposematism, which essentially is the exact opposite! The bright colors are a form of warning message to predators that might get any weird ideas. Here's a more formal definition:

The use of a signal and especially a visual signal of conspicuous markings or bright colors by an animal to warn predators that it is toxic or distasteful" [6]

Unfortunately there's not much research on whether the species is toxic or just distasteful. However, we do know that the frog has glands that secrete a mysterious glue-like substance when provoked. I am sure it doesn't taste nice!

The purpose of this glue is uncertain put it appears to to confuse and deter birds, snakes and other predators.

Although not lethal to humans, some say it's better to take a few precautions if you happen to touch one:

"If you make contact with these frogs you are careful NOT to wipe your eyes before washing your hands. A few scientists have recorded painful stinging and headaches when they forgot to do this!" [3]

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How do they spend their life?

Crucifix frogs don't get to have much fun in their life. As mentioned before, they spend most of their life underground encased in a cocoon waiting for the next heavy rain, which takes months and sometimes even years! When it does finally rain, they come out and boy oh boy, do they know how to party!

Since these guys emerge only once in like forever, their first priority is to have sex. I would probably do the same!

After sufficient rain has soaked the ground they immerge and find temporary pools where males call for the females and mating takes place. After hatching from eggs, the tadpoles grow into small frogs fast before the grasslands they inhabit dry out.

The males then seek out the waterfilled depressions, claypans and waterholes and float with their legs extended and produce a very 'owl-like' 'hooo' call. The females lay their eggs in these ponds and the tadpoles must develop within a couple of weeks before the water dries up and they perish. [3]

What does it eat?

Their diet consists of ants, termites and possibly other small insects like crickets. They only eat when they are on the surface, I guess in between (or maybe during?!?!) their sexy time!

Does it have any enemies?

Very few animals (mainly birds and snakes) are known to feed on crucifix frogs or their tadpoles.

Is the species threatened?

The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and there are no major threats at the moment endangering it's long term survival. However, human related activities like intensive farming are an issue in certain areas but nothing really serious. [5]

Can I Eat Them?

These guys are so small and cute I bet you want to grab a bunch and eat them.

Well, as I mentioned before they are probably toxic and I don't think it would be a good idea to eat one. But I can't stop you from trying. Good hunting!

The End

So, that's pretty much all the basics you need to know about this little guy. Below you can find a few more interesting facts. Like always, you can visit the references if you want to learn even more about this creature. See you in my next strange animal post!

Some Other Interesting Facts About Crucifix Frogs

They are bad swimmers
It's the only frog in the Notaden genus to have bright colors. All the other are dark brown
According to a paper published in 2005, the glue-like substance they excrete is stronger than the available non-toxic medical adhesives. The glue is pressure-sensitive and functions even in wet conditions. [4]

References & Further Reading

My dear readers, thank you for reading today's article. Hopefully, you found it interesting enough to follow me, @trumpman. You may also want to check my strange animal series where you get to discover some of the world's weirdest animals! Here are the last 5 weirdos of the series:

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