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| Subspecies: | |
| Est. World Population: | |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | ENDANGERED |
| U.S. ESA Status: | NOT LISTED |
| Body Length: | 2.0 in |
| Tail Length: | |
| Shoulder Height: | |
| Weight: | |
| Top Speed: | |
| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
| Egg Mass Size: | 5-9 |
| Incubation Period: | |
Identification:
Hamilton’s frog is usually light brown with a single dark stripe running along each side of the head and through the eye. It also has a noticeable ridge running from the head down each side of the body. Its feet have no webbing between the toes. The frog grows to 2.0 inches (5.1 centimeters) long from snout to rump. Females are usually a bit larger than males.
Habitat:
Although its preferred habitat is likely moist forest, this species now survives in a damp, rocky pile that is covered mostly by grasses and shrubs.
Range:
One of the rarest frogs in the world, it lives in a tiny area high atop Stephens Island in New Zealand.
Life Cycle:
Females lay five to nine eggs at a time on land. Each egg hatches into a tiny frog. The males watch over the eggs and young.
Food & Hunting:
Hamilton’s frog eats insects and other invertebrates.
Behaviour:
This frog, for the most part, remains out of sight during the day. Like the other New Zealand frogs, it does not call. It can, however, squeak if mishandled.
Conservation:
The IUCN considers Hamilton’s frog to be Endangered, which means that it faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Protection efforts are under way to protect its small home area and to help it survive into the future.