Blue Mountains Tree Frog
Encyclopedia
The Blue Mountains Tree Frog, (Litoria citropa) is a species of tree frog
native to the coastal and highland areas of eastern Australia
, from just south of Newcastle NSW, to eastern VIC. The Jenolan Caves Tree Frog, a population formerly separated as L. jenolanensis, is nowadays included in this species.
This is a moderate sized frog, up to about 60 mm in length. Its dorsal surface is brown with a few darker flecks. There is a dark stripe that runs from the nostril, above the tympanum
, to the groin
. There is a lighter golden stripe above and adjacent to the dark stripe. The frog is normally green on the side of the head (under the eye), side and arms and legs. The amount of green on an individual frog can range from almost none at all to an all green colour morph (see images, both frogs from the same site). The green colour can occasionally be aqua-green. The armpit, thigh, groin and inner section of the foot are bright red-orange in colour. The belly is white.
This species is associated with flowing rocky stream
s in woodland and wet or dry sclerophyll
forest. This species has a two-part call, the first is a strong "warrrrrk" followed by a number a shorter notes, that sound like a golf ball going in a hole. Males call from streamside vegetation
and rocks in the stream from spring to summer, normally after heavy rain.
This species is often found in highland areas, especially the Blue Mountains, hence its name. The species Litoria jenolanensis is suspected to be genetically the same as this species.
Tree frog
Hylidae is a wide-ranging family of frogs commonly referred to as "tree frogs and their allies". However, the hylids include a diversity of frog species, many of which do not live in trees, but are terrestrial or semi-aquatic.-Characteristics:...
native to the coastal and highland areas of eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, from just south of Newcastle NSW, to eastern VIC. The Jenolan Caves Tree Frog, a population formerly separated as L. jenolanensis, is nowadays included in this species.
Physical description
Tympanum (zoology)
The tympanum is an external hearing structure in animals such as frogs, toads, insects, and mammals, to name a few.-Anurans:In frogs and toads, it is located just behind the eye. It does not actually process sound waves; it simply transmits them to the amphibian's inner ear, which is protected...
, to the groin
Groin
In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
. There is a lighter golden stripe above and adjacent to the dark stripe. The frog is normally green on the side of the head (under the eye), side and arms and legs. The amount of green on an individual frog can range from almost none at all to an all green colour morph (see images, both frogs from the same site). The green colour can occasionally be aqua-green. The armpit, thigh, groin and inner section of the foot are bright red-orange in colour. The belly is white.
Ecology and behaviour
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
s in woodland and wet or dry sclerophyll
Sclerophyll
Sclerophyll is the term for a type of vegetation that has hard leaves and short internodes . The word comes from the Greek sclero and phyllon ....
forest. This species has a two-part call, the first is a strong "warrrrrk" followed by a number a shorter notes, that sound like a golf ball going in a hole. Males call from streamside vegetation
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
and rocks in the stream from spring to summer, normally after heavy rain.
This species is often found in highland areas, especially the Blue Mountains, hence its name. The species Litoria jenolanensis is suspected to be genetically the same as this species.
Diet
Tree frogs generally eat a variety of insects; in captivity, they eat gut-loaded crickets, their own tadpoles, guppies, spiders and worms.Sources
- Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney.
- Robinson, M. 2002. A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia. Australian Museum/Reed New Holland: Sydney.
- Frogs Australia Network-frog call available here.
- Frog and tadpole Study Group
- Frogs of Australia
- Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, New South Wales: Amphibian Keeper's Licence: Species Lists