All Animals

Hochstetter's Frog

Leiopelma hochstetteri
Amphibian

I'm off display

Step into the world of our Hochstetter's frogs and unlock the wonders of these extraordinary creatures

A Hochstetter's frog lounging on a sunny rock

Small, nocturnal and very well camouflaged, these are not the common frogs seen and heard near waterways around New Zealand.

Currently, little is known about their ideal husbandry or breeding in captivity. Part of the recovery plan is to build that knowledge and be able to breed and house them in captivity. Zoos also need to hold native species as an insurance population in case their wild counterparts become extinct. We contribute directly to the recovery plan by learning about and developing their husbandry requirements and breeding in captivity.

In the wild, Hochstetter's frogs are threatened by various diseases, habitat destruction, and predators—mainly introduced species such as cats, rats, and hedgehogs.

Quick facts

Distribution:

New Zealand's North Island

Habitat:

Usually found beside mountain streams

Conservation Status:

Vulnerable

Fun fact

Hochstetter's frogs love to burrow and hide under rocks. This makes them quite tricky to spot and to photograph!