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This Australian endemic has a disjunctive distribution, occurring in the Clarke Range (mid-eastern Queensland), then from Shoalwater Bay (mid-eastern Queensland) south along the coast to Moss Vale (mid-eastern New South Wales), and inland to Blackdown Tableland and Carnarvon Gorge. It was formerly common across a broad altitudinal range but at present it is common only at altitudes of less than 400m asl.

There is no information on the status of inland populations of this species. Elswhere, it is now absent from some areas of apparently suitable habitat. For example, it has not been recorded along the Great Dividing Range in recent surveys. Upland populations in northern New South Wales have also declined, and the species is listed as threatened in the region. There is no published information on its overall population size, structure, genetics or dynamics.

This species is found in wet forest and dry forest environs usually along streams, but also around dams. See Katsikaros and Shine (1997) for studies on diet, habitat use, mating systems and sexual dimorphism. Breeding takes place in streams and ponds. Unpigmented eggs are laid in a foam nest hidden from the light, and development is usually complete within 71 days.

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The major threat to this species is loss and degradation of its habitat through agricultural and urban development. Other significant threats are the introduced predatory fish Gambusia holbrooki, and the spread of weeds. Dead frogs that have suffered from chytridiomycosis have been found in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales.

• 2.1.3 Agro-industry farming
• 2.3.3 Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming
• 2.3.2 Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming
• 9.3.4 Type Unknown/Unrecorded
• 5.3.5 Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded
• 9.1.3 Type Unknown/Unrecorded
• 2.1.2 Small-holder farming
• 8.1.1 Unspecified species
• 9.2.3 Type Unknown/Unrecorded
• 1.1 Housing & urban areas
• 8.1.2 Named species
• 8.1.2 Named species

The range of the species includes several protected areas. Research into the spread of chytrid fungus and education on methods of minimizing and preventing its spread is also needed as a conservation measure.

• 5.1.2 National level
• 3.2 Species recovery
• 5.4.3 Sub-national level
• 5.4.2 National level
• 4.3 Awareness & communications
• 2.1 Site/area management
• 2.3 Habitat & natural process restoration
• 1.2 Resource & habitat protection
• 4.1 Formal education

Listed as Near Threatened because this species is probably in significant decline (but probably at a rate of less than 30% over ten years) because of chytridiomycosis, thus making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable.

• Barker, J., Grigg, G. and Tyler, M. 1995. A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty and Sons Pty Ltd, New South Wales.
• Czechura, G.V. 1986. Distant exiles: frogs and reptiles recorded from Kroombit Tops Southeast Queensland. Queensland Naturalist: 61-67.
• Hines, H., Mahony, M. and McDonald, K. 1999. An assessment of frog declines in wet subtropical Australia. In: Campbell, A. (ed.), Declines and Disappearances of Australian Frogs, Environment Australia.
• Katsikaros, K. and Shine, R. 1997. Sexual dimorphism in the tusked frog, Adelotus brevis (Anura: Myobatrachidae) the roles of natural and sexual selection. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society: 39-51.
• Martin, A.A. 1967. Australian anuran life histories: some evolutionary and ecological aspects. In: Weatherley (ed.), Australian Inland Waters and their Fauna, pp. 175-191. National University Press, Canberra.