[2] The corroboree frogs have historically only been found in a few patches across two regions of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and southern New South Wales (NSW), and these areas have contracted significantly in recent years.

[3] Southern corroboree frogs live at altitudes of 1,300–1,760 m (4,270–5,770 ft) above sea level, historically in an area now within Kosciuszko National Park in the Snowy Mountains of NSW, from Smiggin Holes in the south, and northwards to the Maragle Range.

Tadpoles develop but remain within the protective egg coat until hatching occurs when high ground-water levels after rain cause the nest to become flooded at 4 to 6 months.

[5] Northern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne pengilleyi) Endangered (EN) P. pengilleyi prefers to breed in sphagnum bogs and wet heath in sub-alpine areas and dense patches of herbs in openings or seepages amongst fallen tussocks at lower elevation (bog pools at high altitudes above 1,300 m (4,300 ft) and in shallow seepage pools in gullies at lower altitudes of 1,000–1,400 m (3,300–4,600 ft)).

The typical diet of a mature southern corroboree frog includes beetles, mites, ants and insect larvae.

[8] The southern corroboree frog was considered relatively numerous within its very small distribution in the 1970s, as of June 2004 it had an estimated adult population of 64, but suffered declines of up to 80% over the 10 years up to 1989, at which time it was found only within a fragmented region of less than 10 km2 (3.9 sq mi) within Kosciuszko National Park.

[11] Severe bushfires in the Victorian and NSW high country in January 2003 destroyed much of the frogs' remaining habitat, especially the breeding sites and the leaf litter that insulates overwintering adults.

[13] The 2019–2020 bushfires in Australia destroyed a significant portion of Kosciusko National Park, and killed two-thirds of the southern corroboree frogs contained in specially designed disease-free enclosures built by conservationists.

Research is now under way into captive breeding and on which life cycle stage – eggs, tadpoles or adults – promises the best chance of survival following return to the wild.

[citation needed] Conservationists have stepped up efforts to increase the population of the southern corroboree frog since the 2019–20 bushfires.