Conservation status: least concern

This large burrowing frog is also known as Pobblebonk, Southern Bullfrog, Four-bob Frog, and Bull Frog. It is common in Melbourne, with the subspecies Limnodynastes dumerilii insularis being the one normally found in Bayside. It eats small invertebrates, and may live up to 10 years.

Our local Pobblebonk Park in Sandringham is named for this frog, and their distinctive 'bonk' call can often be heard there and in other wetlands in Bayside. The males call to attract the silent females, usually between October and January. However if the weather is favourable the Eastern Banjo Frog can call at any time of the year.

Up to 90mm long, this frog is not as dependant on water as some frogs. When water is scarce it burrows into the ground. If you've ever dug up a frog in your garden, it was probably a Banjo Frog.

A female can lay up to 4000 eggs. Living in deep water, the tadpoles may grow to 70mm long before they become frogs up to 15 months after hatching.