[citation needed] The water-holding frog is characterised as having a broad and slightly flattened head that is greater in width than length.

[3] They have dorsally tilted eyes that are more prominent to the top of their heads, which makes them distinguishable from other similar species[3] and enhances their downward vision and binocular perspective.

[4] Their arms and hindlimbs are short and they have extensively webbed toes that increase the surface area of their feet enabling them to swim quickly underwater to hunt for prey and escape predators.

[5] Their bodies are thick and range in colour from olive and dull yellow and grey to dark brown with white underbellies.

Colouration varies across population distributions and habitat types, and some may have smooth skin, whereas others may be more granular and finely speckled.

[3] As they grow the gold pigment increases over the dorsum and fades into an opaque silver towards the sides and underneath of the body.

[7][8] Ranoidea platycephala is endemic to Australia and has populations present in all Australian states and territories excluding Victoria and Tasmania.

[3] The range of habitats include ephemeral wetlands, scrublands, forests, grasslands, claypans, temporary swamps, intermittent pools, and rivers.

It is similar to how other animals hibernate, except it takes place during summer as opposed to winter when weather conditions are hot and dry.

[9] Due to aestivation leading to extended periods of time away from usual food sources, they become dependent on stored energy reserves.

[11] The common name of water-holding frog was given to this species due to its ability to store large amounts of water in its bladder.

[16] Other threats to this species include climate change and habitat loss through land clearing and the associated salinity,[16] but the extent of which is yet to be determined.