With more than 200 species, Australia has one of the most diverse range of frogs in the world. Frogs live in the most varied of our country environments, from rainforests and mountains to deserts. However, they are sensitive to change in their environment. Generally around any body of freshwater you could expect to find some frogs. Many need water to breed, although a small puddle can be enough. Their thin, permeable skin is not waterproof, which means they can lose a lot of body moisture on warm days. For this reason, frogs are most active at night, when they will hop about in search of food or a mate. During the day, they find a hiding spot and wait until the heat and light of the sun have passed.
The thin, porous skin of frogs and tadpoles makes them sensitive creatures. Through this skin, they absorb chemicals from the air and water. For this reason, frogs are good indicators of environmental damage.
If you hear many frogs in an area, thats a good sign that the environment is in balance. In areas where water or air pollution have occurred, the local frog community will be affected and there are likely to be very few frogs. On some mining and industrial sites, surveys of frogs populations in the local area are used to detect accidental pollution of waterways.