Leaf Green Tree Frog
Encyclopedia
The Leaf Green Tree Frog (Litoria phyllochroa) is a species of stream-dwelling frog
, native to eastern Australia
from the Queensland
/New South Wales
border south to Sydney
.
This is a fairly small species of tree frog, up to about 40mm in length. It can be light green to dark olive green to light brown to dark brown on the dorsal surface. There is a pale golden stripe that runs from the nostril, through the eye, over the typanum and down the side. This is underlined by a dark brown stripe, which also goes over the typanum, not through it. The forelimbs, groin and thighs are dark red. The toes are three-quarters webbed and toe discs are large. The belly is white.
s in rainforest
, woodland
and wet or dry sclerophyll
forest along the coast and ranges of New South Wales. Males make an erk..ek..ek..derk call from streamside vegetation during spring, summer and autumn, especially on warm nights aftoften seen in suburban creeks around the Sydney and near the sea.
(L. nudidigitus) and frogs that represent species described as Pearson's Green Tree Frog
(L. pearsoniana) and Mountain Stream Tree Frog
(L. barringtonensis). All of these are very closely related and look similar. The taxonomy of these species is under review.
Distribution:
L. barringtonensis = Mid-north coast of NSW.
L. nudidigitus = South of Sydney, NSW
L. phyllochroa = From Sydney, NSW, to mid-north coast of NSW.
L. pearsoniana = North-east NSW and South-east Qld.
Dorsal Surface
L. barringtonensis = Black dots present, usually very distinct and many dots. (see photo)
L. nudidigitus = No black dots present.
L. phyllochroa = No black dots present.
L. pearsoniana = Black dots usually present (not as distinct and not as many as L. barringtonensis), although some specimens have none, or very few. (see photo)
Tympanum:
L. barringtonensis = Distinct, no colouration.
L. nudidigitus = Indistinct, no coluration.
L. phyllochroa = Distinct, no colouration.
L. pearsoniana = Distinct, brown in colour
Shoulder and Groin Colouration:
L. barringtonensis = None present.
L. nudidigitus = Red to black colouration (shoulder), red (groin).
L. phyllochroa = Red-brown colouration (shoulder), red (groin).
L. pearsoniana = None present.
Head Stripe:
L. barringtonensis = Light brown or yellow, passes over the tympanum.
L. nudidigitus = Gold with a black underline, passes over the tympanum.
L. phyllochroa = Gold with a dark brown underline, passes over the tympanum.
L. pearsoniana = Light brown with a thicker brown underline, passes through the tympanum.
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
, native to 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 the Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
/New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
border south to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
Physical description
Ecology and behaviour
This species inhabits flowing streamStream
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 rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
, woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
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 along the coast and ranges of New South Wales. Males make an erk..ek..ek..derk call from streamside vegetation during spring, summer and autumn, especially on warm nights aftoften seen in suburban creeks around the Sydney and near the sea.
Key
This key distinguishes between the physical differences of the Leaf Green Tree Frog (L. phyllochroa), Southern Leaf Green Tree FrogSouthern Leaf Green Tree Frog
The Southern Leaf Green Tree Frog is a species of tree frog native to coastal areas and the ranges of south-eastern Australia. It is distributed from just south of Sydney to eastern Victoria.-Physical description:...
(L. nudidigitus) and frogs that represent species described as Pearson's Green Tree Frog
Pearson's Green Tree Frog
The Pearson's Tree Frog, is a species of tree frog that inhabits rainforest creeks in from north of Lismore, New South Wales to Kenilworth, Queensland with a disjunct population at Kroombit Tops Queensland, Australia.-Taxonomy:...
(L. pearsoniana) and Mountain Stream Tree Frog
Mountain Stream Tree Frog
The Mountain Stream Tree Frog, is a species of tree frog native to highland areas of NSW, Australia stretching from the Myall Lakes area, north to around Dorrigo National Park and west to Barrington Tops National Park.-Taxonomy:...
(L. barringtonensis). All of these are very closely related and look similar. The taxonomy of these species is under review.
Distribution:
L. barringtonensis = Mid-north coast of NSW.
L. nudidigitus = South of Sydney, NSW
L. phyllochroa = From Sydney, NSW, to mid-north coast of NSW.
L. pearsoniana = North-east NSW and South-east Qld.
Dorsal Surface
L. barringtonensis = Black dots present, usually very distinct and many dots. (see photo)
L. nudidigitus = No black dots present.
L. phyllochroa = No black dots present.
L. pearsoniana = Black dots usually present (not as distinct and not as many as L. barringtonensis), although some specimens have none, or very few. (see photo)
Tympanum:
L. barringtonensis = Distinct, no colouration.
L. nudidigitus = Indistinct, no coluration.
L. phyllochroa = Distinct, no colouration.
L. pearsoniana = Distinct, brown in colour
Shoulder and Groin Colouration:
L. barringtonensis = None present.
L. nudidigitus = Red to black colouration (shoulder), red (groin).
L. phyllochroa = Red-brown colouration (shoulder), red (groin).
L. pearsoniana = None present.
Head Stripe:
L. barringtonensis = Light brown or yellow, passes over the tympanum.
L. nudidigitus = Gold with a black underline, passes over the tympanum.
L. phyllochroa = Gold with a dark brown underline, passes over the tympanum.
L. pearsoniana = Light brown with a thicker brown underline, passes through the tympanum.
As a pet
It is kept as a pet, in Australia this animal may be kept in captivity with the appropriate permit.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