Getting in early for Threatened Species Day 2024 here at the Threatened Species Index! This year, the team are working hard on Australia's first Threatened Frog Index, collating long-term data on the abundance of our threatened amphibians, such as the stunning Wallum Sedge Frog. #WildOz TERN

For this week’s #WildlifeWednesday is the endangered Carnaby's Black Cockatoo (Zanda latirostris), found in south-west WA. Forming monogamous pairs, the male can fly over 12 km a day to find food for the female while she incubates 1-2 eggs in a tree hollow! Pic: Raeline Smith.

🐸Today at the #ESAus2024 conference, Threatened Species Index’s Dr Geoff Heard revealed the key findings of Australia's first Threatened Frog Index! The pilot index shows that threatened and near-threatened frogs have declined by an average of 97% since 1985. Learn more: tsx.org.au/tsx2024

Next up for #WildlifeWednesday is the vulnerable Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea) – one of the 27 frogs included in the first Australian Threatened Frog Index! You can view the pilot index here: tsx.org.au/tsx2024. Pic: Geoff Heard. #WildOz #frogs

The vulnerable Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) is up next for #WildlifeWednesday. These small wallabies are found in WA, including on Rottnest Island. Quokkas feed mostly on grasses and leaves but when food is scarce, they can use fat stores in their tail! Pic: Sam West. #WildOz

For this #WildlifeWednesday is the vulnerable Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris). While these medium-sized migratory shorebirds are found along Australia’s coast September-April, they breed in Siberia. After the eggs hatch, the male takes care of the chicks! Pic: Cherilyn Corker.

For today’s #WildlifeWednesday is the endangered Tangled Wattle (Acacia volubilis), found in the Cunderdin-Tammin area of WA’s Avon Wheatbelt, mostly along roadsides. This dome-shaped shrub is long-lived, grows to around 1m, and has red-brown pods! Pic: Andrew Crawford. #WildOz

Next up for #WildlifeWednesday is the world’s rarest marsupial: the critically endangered Gilbert's Potoroo (Potorous gilbertii). Thought to be extinct for almost a century before it was rediscovered in 1994, there are now more than 110 individuals in the wild in WA! Pic: DBCA.

🐸 For today’s #WildlifeWednesday is the endangered Mountain Frog (Philoria kundagungan) found at mid-high elevations in a small region of the Gondwana rainforests near the Qld-NSW border. They reach around 3cm and females lay eggs in water-filled cavities on land! 📷 Jodi Rowley

🦜For #WildlifeWednesday: the critically endangered Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor), one of three migratory parrots in the world! They breed in Tasmania in spring-summer, nesting in tree hollows of eucalypts, then migrate to the south-east of mainland Australia. 📷Mick Roderick

For this #WildlifeWednesday is the endangered Northern Bettong (Bettongia tropica) found in Far North Qld. During the day, these solitary nocturnal macropods take shelter in a nest – one that they built from plant material collected using their prehensile tail! 📷Wayne Lawler/AWC

For #WildlifeWednesday today, we have the endangered Pretty Beard Orchid (Calochilus pulchellus). This herbaceous orchid occurs in southern NSW and eastern Victoria and flowers between late-October and late-November, producing up to 2 open flowers at a time! 📷 John Briggs, OEH

🐸 For today’s #WildlifeWednesday is the vulnerable Sunset Frog (Spicospina flammocaerulea). This small frog is found in south-west WA and was only discovered in 1994. Inhabiting Australia for least 30 million years, it is one of the country’s oldest frogs! 📷 Adam Parsons

Next up for #WildlifeWednesday is the endangered Dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) which was presumed extinct until 1967. This small marsupial is found in WA. They breed in autumn and adult females can carry up to 8 joeys in their pouch at one time! 📷 Cathy Lambert, Perth Zoo

For this #WildlifeWednesday is the endangered Lord Howe Woodhen (Hypotaenidia sylvestris) found on Lord Howe Island. These flightless birds feed mostly on invertebrates including snails and worms. Adults pair for life and defend their territory of 2-3ha! 📷 Patrick Kavanagh

🐸 For today’s #WildlifeWednesday is the critically endangered Spotted Tree Frog (Litoria spenceri), found in mountainous river systems in north-eastern Victoria and southern NSW. This frog grows up to 6cm in length and breeds from late October to early December! 📷 Adam Parsons

Next up for #WildlifeWednesday is the endangered Woylie (Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi). The diet of this small, nocturnal marsupial includes underground fungi, bulbs, tubers and seeds. Their digging helps the ecosystem by spreading seeds and fungal spores! 📷 Wayne Lawler/AWC

For this #WildlifeWednesday is the vulnerable Painted Honeyeater (Grantiella picta), which grows up to 16 cm in length and is found in open forests and woodlands. This honeyeater is a specialist feeder, mostly feeding on the fruit of mistletoes! 📷 Andrew Silcocks

🐸 For today’s #WildlifeWednesday is the endangered Mahony's Toadlet (Uperoleia mahonyi) which was formally described in 2016. This small frog – growing up to 3.5 cm in body length – inhabits the mid-north coast of NSW and breeds in autumn and spring! 📷 Stephen Mahony #WildOz