When it has captured an earthworm, it reverses into its burrow, sometimes twisting its head around or twirling its whole body to subdue its prey.

[citation needed] The larvae move out of the burrow and wriggle to pools or water courses that form in the wet season.

They have three pairs of external feathery gills, a lateral line system, and a tail fin which enables them to swim.

[3] The gills persist, but they have lost their lateral lines by the time they undergo a relatively slow metamorphosis at about nine months old.

[1] This is because, although its range is probably less than 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi), it is locally common in the areas in which it lives and does not seem to have any significant threats.