Ever flushed a toilet in the Australian outback and seen a frog staring back at you? These so-called “dunny frogs”—famous for their habit of hiding in toilets, showers, and water tanks—have long been considered a single species. However, groundbreaking research has revealed that they are, in fact, three distinct species.

A Surprise Hiding In Plain Sight

For years, the red tree frog (Litoria rubella) was thought to be a single species with the widest range of any Australian frog, covering an enormous 4.6 million square kilometers from the monsoon tropics to the arid interior. But scientists had their doubts. How could a single species survive in such drastically different environments?

A research team led by Dr. Renee Catullo from the University of Western Australia, in collaboration with experts from several Australian museums and Germany, set out to investigate.

Their study, published in Zootaxa, combined genetic analysis, body measurements, and recordings of mating calls to uncover the hidden diversity of these amphibians. Their findings? The dunny frog isn’t just one species—it’s three.

Meet The New Species : ‘dunny Frogs’

Through mitochondrial DNA sequencing and morphological analysis, researchers uncovered two previously unrecognized species within the broad classification of Litoria rubella.

The western desert tree frog (Litoria larisonans) inhabits the arid Pilbara and central regions of Western Australia, where it has evolved to withstand extreme dry conditions.

In contrast, the ruddy tree frog (Litoria pyrina) thrives in the humid tropical zones of Queensland and New South Wales, demonstrating a remarkable adaptation to vastly different environments.

A key factor in distinguishing these species was their unique mating calls—males produce a distinct, multi-pulsed bleating sound. These vocal differences, alongside genetic and physical variations, confirmed that what was once thought to be a single species is actually three separate ones.

Evolution at Work

The discovery highlights how Australia’s extreme environments drive species to evolve and adapt in unique ways. While some frogs have developed survival strategies for hot, dry deserts, others flourish in coastal rainforests. This split in evolution, driven by habitat differences, is a classic example of speciation.

“These frogs are a great example of how species can adapt to extreme environments, from tropical coastlines to dry deserts,” said Dr. Catullo. “Their abundance and diversity make them an important model for studying the evolution of Australian frogs.”

The Importance of Discovery

Uncovering new species isn’t just about giving frogs new names—it has real-world implications. Conservation efforts depend on correctly identifying species, ensuring that each population gets the protection it needs. A species thought to be widespread and stable might actually consist of multiple smaller populations, some of which could be at risk.

For example, if a single species is mistakenly classified as one large population, it might not receive the conservation attention it deserves.

More Than Just Toilet Dwellers

The dunny frogs may be famous for their quirky toilet-dwelling habits, but their story is a testament to nature’s hidden complexity. The next time you hear an odd croaking near an outback toilet, you might just be listening to one of Australia’s newest amphibian discoveries—a species that had been overlooked for decades.