Phones at the ready Cape York. FrogID Week 2025 is here. Photo: Supplied.
Australia’s biggest citizen science project and the world’s largest frog count has singled out Mapoon and Wujal Wujal for its 2025 project.
Frog ID says the two Cape York towns are underrepresented in its national data as it moves into its biggest week of the year.
Now in its 8th year, the Australian Museum’s FrogID Week from 7 to 16 November 2025 is calling on Cape “froggers” to add to the 1.3 million records made through its app.
The public input has already been instrumental in the scientific discovery of 13 new Australian frog species, including four described as new to science in the past year.
As Australia’s ecosystems continue to shift due to climate extremes, urban development and habitat loss, scientists are increasingly looking to frogs for early warnings.
Dr Jodi Rowley, Australian Museum lead scientist for FrogID and curator of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Biology at the Australian Museum, said efforts across the Cape could make a long-term difference.
“FrogID has been instrumental in enhancing frog conservation efforts across Australia, contributing to research, aiding the discovery of new species, and helping determine how threatened frogs are in state, territory and federal conservation assessments,” Dr Rowley said.
FrogID says the Superb Banjo Frog (Limnodynastes terraereginae) is among its most wanted calls (hear it below).
Until recently, this species was considered to be widespread – from Cape York to NSW. But research led by the Australian Museum and published in 2024 revealed the species was actually restricted to Cape York; more southern populations were in fact a distinct species, Limnodynastes grayi.
Cape York’s species reaches up to 9.4 cm in body length. Its dorsal surface has a light brown base with strong dark brown to black blotching, and orange and yellow patches on the sides. Its belly is cream-white and edged with yellow, lacking any pattern.
FrogID recordings were core to this research.
Cape York’s Superb Banjo Frog (Limnodynastes terraereginae). Photo: Supplied.
The free FrogID app was initially developed in partnership with IBM in 2017. The app enables anyone with a smartphone to record different frog species by the unique sounds they make.
These recordings provide data on the health of Australia’s frog populations and identify species at risk to assist and inform conservation efforts.
For more information, visit: FrogID.
The easy-to-use FrogID app is crucial in enhancing frog conservation efforts. Photo: Supplied.
