Not too many kilometres from here, the arid region begins and gently rolling hills and dunes weather with geological seasons, rather than climatic ones.

Australia contains the largest desert region in the southern hemisphere and around 70 per cent of our continent is arid or semi-arid. 

Rainfall is the main influence in the lives of desert plants and animals.

Years of little or no moisture can be followed by storms that bring torrential rains and flooding rivers.

Our deserts support plants and animals that are found nowhere else on earth.

They have adapted to the harsh conditions and are able to manage even with the unpredictable nature of Central Australian weather patterns.

Frogs are not generally thought of as being one of the great desert survivors.

Most have permeable skins that allows water and oxygen to pass directly in and out of the animal, but this nifty function means that the frog is extremely susceptible to drying out.

 The skin must remain moist in order to work properly and a desiccated frog is an unhappy creature indeed.

Some Central Australian frogs will aestivate, or lower their metabolic rate.

This means that their bodies slow down, so that they can ration water and survive hot, dry periods.

An aestivating frog burrows into the ground and secretes a watertight cocoon of mucus through its skin that provides a “raincoat” that keeps the water in, instead of out.

This little burrowing frog from Simpsons Gap in the West MacDonnell National Park emerged from underground after recent rainfall.

The feet of these frogs are not webbed like tree frogs and are ideal tools for digging in the loose sand.

When you are visiting Central Australia, always remember that the riverbanks are home to many sleeping frogs just waiting for a bit of rain.

Sand and soil are easily compacted by vehicles, so stay on the track while you are driving and you will help us to protect some special little Australians.