Dead frog leads to exciting discovery

A colony of rare native frogs has been discovered in a private conservation haven.

Eleven Hochstetter's frogs were found in a rocky area of Maungatautari, near Cambridge.

Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust researcher Matt Baber was checking traps set to survey insect life in the area when he found a dead frog in one.

It was identified as a Hochstetter's, one of four remaining native frog species.

The other traps were dismantled and a hunt eventually found 10 other frogs, including young ones.

Trust ecologist Chris Smuts-Kennedy said the dead frog was sent away for DNA testing to see if the colony was a completely separate population.

He said the two nearest Hochstetter's populations were 35km away on either side of the mountain and they were genetically distinct from each other.

A spokeswoman said it was unfortunate one of the frogs died in an insect trap, but it led to the discovery of the frogs which might otherwise never have been found.

"It is an unlikely environment, so probably people would not have checked for Hochstetter's frogs."

The trust and the Department of Conservation would do a more intensive survey to see how big the population actually was.

DoC technical support manager for the Waikato conservancy, John Gumbley, said it was an unexpected find because no frogs had been found in other parts of central Waikato.

"It's rather like human beings. We are all one species but all different races. It's the same with animal and plant species, so this population is probably quite unique, but still the same species. It is quite a unique find really and raises the possibility that perhaps native frogs might be found in other small forest remnants in Waikato, such as Pirongia. Now we know it's there, we can protect it."

The trust has set up a $14 million fundraising exercise for a pest-proof fence around 3400ha of bush on the mountain so that species such as kiwi, kokako, kakariki, tuatara and kaka can be re-introduced. It has so far raised about $4.5 million and fenced off two smaller areas.

Although the Hochstetter's were outside those areas, Mr Smuts-Kennedy said they could not be moved into them because there were no suitable habitats.

He said the frogs had survived where they were for thousands of years. He said it could be dangerous to move such a small population.

The trust's chief executive, Jim Mylchreest, said the Hochstetter's were on the list of possible introductions to the eventual fenced off area.

"But it is wonderful that we have our own resident population which has survived on the mountain.

"The race is now on to erect the pest-proof fence around the whole mountain and protect these threatened frogs and any other species that may be surviving in small numbers."

HOCHSTETTER'S FROGS

Grow to about 5cm long.

Can live for more than 30 years.

Do not croak, unlike most frogs.

Have round eyes, rather than slit eyes.

Do not have a tadpole stage - frogs hatch almost fully formed from eggs.