H
Species Profile

Holy Cross Frog

Notaden bennettii

The desert frog with a cross on its back
Kristian Bell/Shutterstock.com

Holy Cross Frog Distribution

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Endemic Species
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Found in 1 country

🇦🇺 Australia
Crucifix Frog

At a Glance

Wild Species
Diet Insectivore
Activity Nocturnal+
Lifespan 8 years
Weight 0.07 lbs
Status Least Concern
Did You Know?

Its common name comes from a distinct dark, cross-shaped dorsal marking (often most visible when the frog is plump and active).

Scientific Classification

A stout, terrestrial/burrowing Australian frog commonly called the Crucifix Toad due to a dark cross-shaped marking on its back. It is an arid and semi-arid zone species that emerges after rains to feed and breed.

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Amphibia
Order
Anura
Family
Myobatrachidae
Genus
Notaden
Species
Notaden bennettii

Distinguishing Features

  • Prominent cross-like dorsal marking (variable but often conspicuous)
  • Rounded, squat body adapted for burrowing
  • Explosive emergence and breeding activity following heavy rains
  • Terrestrial lifestyle with extended underground dormancy (aestivation)

Physical Measurements

Weight
0 lbs (0 lbs – 0 lbs)

Appearance

Primary Colors
Green Brown
Secondary Colors
Black Yellow Orange Cream
Skin Type Skin thick, glandular, and strongly bumpy or warted on the back; Holy Cross Frog (Notaden bennettii) is a burrowing Australian frog that can go inactive underground in dry spells, often with a shed-skin cocoon.
Distinctive Features
  • Not a true toad (family Bufonidae); it is an Australian limnodynastid frog (Limnodynastidae) with a toad-like, stout build.
  • Adult size: reported snout-vent length (SVL) commonly ~35-55 mm, with maximum around ~55 mm in field-guide and museum-based summaries for Notaden bennettii (e.g., Australian amphibian identification references such as Cogger; Anstis).
  • Body form: very squat/rounded with short limbs; head small; eyes relatively prominent; adapted for terrestrial locomotion and rapid burial in loose soils.
  • Signature marking: bold, dark cross-shaped (cruciform) marking centered on the dorsum-origin of common names "Holy Cross Frog" and "Crucifix Toad."
  • Dorsal glands/tubercles: scattered raised tubercles and enlarged glands (often orange/yellow-tipped), giving a strongly textured appearance.
  • Arid-zone ecology: spends long periods inactive underground; emerges mainly after substantial rain to feed and breed.
  • Rain-triggered 'explosive breeder': breeding activity is concentrated into short windows (often nights) following heavy rainfall, typically in ephemeral pools/claypans; adults may be absent from the surface outside these events.
  • Burrowing/aestivation: capable of rapid backward burrowing using hind feet; aestivates through dry periods underground (species widely documented as a burrowing, rain-emergent arid-zone frog in Australian natural-history sources).
  • Advertisement calling: males call during rain-triggered breeding events; calls are typically low-pitched and short (described as a grunting/bonking quality in Australian frog guides).
  • Longevity: robust, species-specific published longevity estimates are uncommon for this taxon; wild lifespan is generally not well quantified in primary literature, and captive longevity is inconsistently reported across sources.

Sexual Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism is modest and mainly evident during breeding events: females tend to be larger-bodied, while males develop secondary sexual traits for amplexus/calling.

♂
  • Typically smaller SVL than females on average (size dimorphism is common in Anura and reported for Notaden in field summaries).
  • Breeding-season traits: nuptial pads (keratinized/roughened areas) on hands/forelimbs to aid amplexus; males are the advertising sex (calling) during explosive breeding after rain.
♀
  • Typically larger and heavier-bodied than males, especially when gravid; expanded abdomen when carrying eggs.
  • Lack nuptial pads; generally silent (do not advertise-call).

Did You Know?

Its common name comes from a distinct dark, cross-shaped dorsal marking (often most visible when the frog is plump and active).

Adults are small but chunky: typically about 3.5-5.5 cm snout-vent length (SVL), with females usually larger than males (field-guide consensus).

It can spend long dry periods underground in aestivation, surfacing rapidly after rain-sometimes appearing "overnight" in places that looked lifeless the day before.

It is an "explosive breeder": many individuals converge and breed quickly in short-lived rain pools, then disperse as the water disappears.

When threatened, it can exude a very sticky skin secretion; this 'frog glue' from Notaden bennettii has been studied as a potential bioadhesive (biomaterials research literature).

It forages mainly on invertebrates (especially ants/termites and other small arthropods), taking advantage of post-rain insect booms.

Despite being called a 'toad,' it is a true frog (order Anura) in the Australian family Limnodynastidae.

Unique Adaptations

  • Aestivation physiology: survives drought by remaining underground in a low-activity state, reducing water loss and metabolic demand (common strategy among Australia's arid-zone frogs).
  • Moisture-conserving body form: compact, rounded shape reduces surface-area-to-volume ratio, slowing dehydration in dry conditions.
  • Rapid life-cycle under uncertainty: breeding tied to temporary waters favors fast larval development relative to many permanent-water frogs (documented broadly for arid-zone Australian anurans; species-level rates vary by temperature and pool duration).
  • Adhesive defensive secretion ('frog glue'): a protein-rich, fast-setting sticky mucus from skin glands that can strongly adhere to wet tissues and has been investigated for medical adhesive applications (published Notaden bennettii bioadhesive studies).
  • Camouflage and disruptive marking: mottled coloration plus the dark cross-shaped pattern can break up the outline against leaf litter and clay soils, aiding concealment.

Interesting Behaviors

  • Rain-triggered emergence: individuals remain hidden while soils are dry, then surface soon after substantial rainfall to feed and reproduce.
  • Explosive breeding: adults aggregate at ephemeral puddles and claypans; breeding activity is compressed into a short window while water persists (a hallmark of arid-zone anurans).
  • Burrowing and hiding: uses limbs to work into soft soils and shelter beneath the surface, often choosing sites that retain some moisture below a dry crust.
  • Sit-and-wait predation: tends to remain still and strike at passing small invertebrates rather than actively pursuing prey.
  • Defensive posture and secretion: when handled or attacked, it can stiffen and release highly adhesive skin secretions that deter predators.

Cultural Significance

The Holy Cross Frog (Crucifix Toad, Notaden bennettii) is a desert symbol: hidden in droughts, active after rain. Its cross-shaped mark gave its name, and its very sticky skin slime, called 'Notaden glue', interests scientists for wet-surface adhesives.

Myths & Legends

Naming tradition: European settlers and naturalists popularized the names "Holy Cross Frog" and "Crucifix Toad" because the dark dorsal marking resembles a Christian cross, giving the animal a distinctive place in colonial-era bush vernacular.

Eponym story: the species name bennettii commemorates the naturalist George Bennett (1804-1893), reflecting a 19th-century tradition of honoring collectors and patrons in Australian zoology.

In inland Australia, the Holy Cross Frog (Crucifix Toad, Notaden bennettii) appearing after long dry spells is a bush sign that the country is waking and rain may come, since they come out with rain.

Conservation Status

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant in the wild.

Population Stable

Protected Under

  • Not listed as a threatened species under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act); occurs as native wildlife managed under state/territory fauna legislation across its range (e.g., NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016; Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992; South Australia National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972; Western Australia Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016).
  • Occurs in multiple conservation reserves within its broad inland distribution; protection is primarily via habitat representation in protected areas and general native-fauna protections rather than species-specific recovery planning.

Life Cycle

Birth 800 tadpoles
Lifespan 8 years

Lifespan

In the Wild
5–10 years
In Captivity
8–15 years

Reproduction

Mating System Polygynandry
Social Structure Aggregation Group
Breeding Pattern Transient
Fertilization Substrate Spawning
Birth Type Substrate_spawning

Notaden bennettii (Holy Cross Frog/Crucifix Toad) is a burrowing arid/semi‑arid frog that breeds after heavy rain in temporary pools. It is an explosive, polygynandrous breeder with external fertilization (amplexus), fast tadpole growth, and no parental care.

Behavior & Ecology

Social Breeding aggregation (chorus)
Activity Nocturnal, Crepuscular
Diet Insectivore Ants and termites (frequently reported as principal prey items for Notaden bennettii in natural-history accounts; quantitative, species-specific stomach-content percentages are not well published).
Seasonal Hibernates

Temperament

Secretive, sedentary, and strongly fossorial for most of the year; activity is largely rain-triggered (surface emergence after storms) (Anstis, 2013).
Generally non-territorial outside breeding; males become highly vocally active at breeding sites and may call in close proximity during choruses (Anstis, 2013).
Defensive when threatened: inflates body and shows warning colors; makes lots of sticky, bad-smelling skin secretions known in Notaden and reported for N. bennettii in field guides (e.g., Cogger 2018).

Communication

Male advertisement call given at ephemeral breeding sites shortly after heavy rain; used to attract females and coordinate breeding aggregations Anstis, 2013
Release call Short vocalization) when clasped improperly during amplexus (general anuran behavior; specific published acoustic parameters for N. bennettii are limited in accessible summaries
Distress vocalization may occur when handled/attacked Reported broadly in anurans; species-specific characterization is not well quantified in the primary sources commonly cited for this species
Tactile communication during amplexus (male grasping female) and during close-contact positioning at breeding sites.
Chemical defense signaling via skin secretions (sticky/noxious), which functions primarily as antipredator communication/deterrence.
Spatial/chorus dynamics: call timing and spacing within male choruses can act as indirect social signaling (presence/competition) during explosive breeding events.

Habitat

Desert Shrubland Grassland Woodland Wetland Pond
Biomes:
Desert Hot Savanna Temperate Grassland Freshwater Wetland
Terrain:
Plains Plateau Riverine Sandy Muddy
Elevation: Up to 3280 ft 10 in

Ecological Role

Pulse-driven mesopredator of terrestrial invertebrates in arid and semi-arid Australian ecosystems (feeds intensely during short post-rain activity windows).

Regulates populations of ground-dwelling social insects (notably ants and termites) during post-rain pulses Transfers energy from abundant invertebrate prey into higher trophic levels (serves as prey for larger predators when above-ground) Contributes to nutrient cycling and soil-food-web dynamics indirectly via predation on detritivore-associated insects and through burrowing that disturbs soil microhabitats

Diet Details

Main Prey:
Ants Termites Beetles Small terrestrial arthropods

Human Interaction

Domestication Status

Wild

Notaden bennettii (Holy Cross Frog, Crucifix Toad) is a wild Australian frog with no domestication history. People meet it mainly after heavy rains in arid areas, in scientific work or museums, and rarely as a specialist pet. It burrows, breeds in temporary water, and makes sticky skin glue studied as a natural glue.

Danger Level

Low
  • Skin secretions can be sticky/irritating; avoid contact with eyes/mucous membranes and wash hands after handling.
  • Handling stress and disease transmission risk (to the frog) is significant; humans can spread chytrid fungus and other pathogens via wet hands/equipment.
  • No evidence of serious envenomation; primary hazard is minor irritation/allergic reaction in sensitive individuals.

As a Pet

Not Suitable as Pet

Legality: Notaden bennettii (Holy Cross Frog) is protected in Australia; keeping usually needs a state/territory permit and proof it was captive-bred, as wild collection is banned or tightly controlled. Not CITES-listed; export is rare and local laws still apply.

Care Level: Expert Only

Purchase Cost: Up to $250
Lifetime Cost: $800 - $3,000

Economic Value

Uses:
Biomaterials/biomedical research Education and outreach Limited specialist pet trade (where legal)
Products:
  • research on adhesive skin secretion (natural bioadhesive models; sometimes referred to in literature as 'frog glue')
  • specimen and tissue records for museums/universities (non-commercial scientific value)

Relationships

Predators 8

Eastern brown snake
Eastern brown snake Pseudonaja textilis
Mulga snake
Mulga snake Pseudechis australis
Death adder
Death adder Acanthophis antarcticus
Lace monitor
Lace monitor Varanus varius
Australian raven Corvus coronoides
Laughing kookaburra
Laughing kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae
Red fox
Red fox Vulpes vulpes
Feral cat
Feral cat Felis catus

Related Species 6

Desert spadefoot toad Notaden nichollsi Shared Genus
Black-soled toad Notaden melanoscaphus Shared Genus
Weigel's toad Notaden weigeli Shared Genus
Ornate burrowing frog Platyplectrum ornatum Shared Order
Water-holding frog Ranoidea platycephala Shared Order
Bibron's toadlet Pseudophryne bibronii Shared Family

Ecological Equivalents 3

Animals that fill a similar ecological role in their ecosystem

Ornate burrowing frog Platyplectrum ornatum Shares a semi-arid to temperate Australian terrestrial lifestyle with burrowing/retreating behavior and rain-triggered activity. Both forage on ground-dwelling invertebrates and use temporary waters for breeding after rainfall.
Water-holding frog Ranoidea platycephala Occupies arid and semi-arid inland Australia and survives dry periods by prolonged burrowing (aestivation). It emerges rapidly after heavy rains to feed and breed, a drought-escape strategy functionally similar to Notaden bennettii.
Trilling frog Neobatrachus centralis An inland Australian burrowing frog that spends long dry intervals underground and breeds explosively in ephemeral, rain-filled pools; it strongly overlaps Notaden bennettii in habitat use and seasonal ecology.

The holy cross frog has a cross-shaped colored pattern on its back.

Summary

Holy Cross Frog (also called Crucifix Frog) is a frog species native to Australia. The frog’s name references the cross-shaped red and black pattern on its yellow or yellow-green body. The unique appearance of this frog makes it one of Australia’s most striking frog species. It is a burrowing frog species, spending most of its time underground to escape predators. The bright coloration of this frog also warns predators that they’re not to be eaten. crucifix frogs secrete sticky substances that repel predators and help them catch prey. 

5 Holy Cross Frog Facts

  • The holy cross frog is one of the few Australian frogs that exhibit aposematism (warning coloration)
  • It is a ground-dwelling burrower that stays underground during dry periods. 
  • The crucifix frog can produce a cocoon to conserve water. This helps it to survive long periods underground without water. 
  • The sticky substance produced by the frog’s skin helps repel predators, attract prey, and get attached to females while mating. 
  • Crucifix frogs lure prey by wiggling their toes. 

Holy Cross Frog Scientific Name

The scientific name for the holy cross frog is Notaden bennettii. The genus name Notaden refers to a small genus of burrowing frogs commonly known as the spadefoot toads. The group includes the holy cross toad and others like: 

  • Northern spadefoot toad
  • Wiegel’s toad
  • Desert spadefoot toad. 

All members of this genus are characterized by a rounded shape, short neck, and stubby legs. Notaden bennettii is known by many common names, including crucifix toad, holy cross frog, and catholic frog. 

Holy Cross Frog Appearance & Behavior

The holy cross frog is one of Australia’s most striking frog species. It is a bright yellow or green color with distinct cross-shaped black and red dot patterns across its back. The cross-shaped dots are its most distinctive feature and the reason for its common name. Their abdomen surface is typically white, while the sides have a blue coloration. 

The holy cross frog is a tiny amphibian, as small as the 20 Australian cent piece. Males are slightly smaller, with lengths of roughly 6.3 cm (2.4 in), while females are usually about 6.8 cm (2.67 in). 

They have nearly round pupils with gold irises. Their feet are webbed, which gives them the appearance of spades, an adaptation that helps them to burrow quickly and deeply. Crucifix frogs can borrow up to 3 meters deep in the ground with the spades on their feet and remain dormant until the rainy season. During their time in the soil, they protect and preserve their body with a cocoon which they consume as a nutritious kick-start when coming out of their burrow when the dry season is over.

When in danger, the catholic frogs secrete a glue-like substance from their bodies, making them distasteful to predators. The sticky substance also ensnares insects which the frogs eat. It also serves as a non-toxic adhesive that helps males to stick to the females when mating. 

Another interesting habit of this frog is how it catches prey. The Holy Cross frogs draw prey closer by wiggling their toes while the rest of their body stays immobile; this lures unsuspecting insects so they can easily catch them.  

Holy Cross Frog Habitat

The crucifix toad is a ground-dwelling frog found mainly in the arid regions of New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. They live in the semi-arid grasslands of these areas. They prefer the savannah and wetlands with clay soil that gets hard during the dry season and soft when it rains. The muddy soil makes it easy for them to emerge and burrow back into the soil before it hardens again. 

Holy Cross Frog Predators & Threats

The holy cross frog is listed as a species of least concern on the IUCN red list of threatened species. This means they’re currently not endangered. So even though they could be preyed on by snakes and other animals that consume toads, catholic frogs are generally safe from them. 

When threatened by these animals, they release the sticky glue-like substance that repels these predators. The main threats to these species are habitat loss due to climate change and farming. And since they live in flood plains, over-extraction of water can affect and destroy their habitats. 

What does the Holy Cross Frog Eat? 

Holy cross frogs are carnivorous animals living on a purely animal-based diet. The frog eats insects, tadpoles, and mosquito larvae in the temporary ponds they live in. They also feed on ants and termites. 

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan

When it rains, crucifix frogs come out of the ground and immediately start to breed, usually between spring and autumn. The frogs will emerge into puddles or temporary ponds created by the rain, and the males will start to make a call sound to attract the females. Once the sound attracts a female, the male will secret the sticky glue substance and mount it on her back with the glue. The smaller size of the male also makes this easier. 

Afterward, the female will lay eggs which the male will fertilize. Crucifix frog tadpoles develop rapidly, and they have to fend for themselves. The tadpoles are usually copper in color and have a length of about 5cm. The cycle of transforming into frogs takes about six weeks. When out of the ground, holy cross frogs live for six to eight weeks. 

Population

Holy cross frogs are currently not considered endangered. They have a steady population which might increase if they are maintained. However, they have a short lifespan, limiting the chances of an exponential increase in population. 

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Sources

  1. Wikipedia / Accessed October 2, 2022
  2. Bush Heritage Australia / Accessed October 2, 2022
  3. Animalia / Accessed October 2, 2022
Abdulmumin Akinde

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Abdulmumin Akinde

Abdulmumin is a pharmacist and a top-rated content writer who can pretty much write on anything that can be researched on the internet. However, he particularly enjoys writing about animals, nature, and health. He loves animals, especially horses, and would love to have one someday.
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Holy Cross Frog FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Although it has a warning coloration that suggests to prey that it is poisonous, the crucifix frog isn’t really poisonous. The frog will secrete a milky, sticky glue when a predator threatens it. The glue is not poisonous, but it tastes terrible to predators.

 

 

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