Southern Leaf Green Tree Frog
Encyclopedia
The Southern Leaf Green Tree Frog (Litoria nudidigitus) 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.
, (Litoria phyllochroa) and distribution and call are used to distinguish the two, the differences between the species are discussed on that page. The tympanum is indistinct (it is distinct in L. phyllochroa). There is a black stripe on the side of the head (starting at the nostril) and it continues down the side of the frog, it often gets larger the further down the frog it goes. There is a gold stripe above the black one and follows it in the same direction.
, Sydney is considered the dividing point for the two species. L. nudidigitus to the south and L. phyllochroa to the north. Although hybridisation is possible around southern Sydney from the Royal National Park
to about Wollongong, being regared as the hybrid zone
.
This species is associated with streams and creeks in rainforest and wet or dry sclerophyll forest. It is rarely found away from running water.
Males have a call similar to that of L. phyllochroa, it is composed of a long first note, and followed by a series of shorter notes-eeekkkkk-cruk cruk. Males call during spring and summer from vegetation around a stream.
Litoria nudidigita is an alternate spelling of this species.
L. phyllochroa, Pearson's Green Tree Frog
L. pearsoniana and Mountain Stream Tree Frog
L. barringtonensis go to, Leaf Green Tree Frog#Key
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...
to eastern Victoria.
Physical description
This is a small species of tree frog, up to about 40 millimetres (1.6 in) in length. Adults are normally green on the dorsal surface (although at times they can be brown), however metamorph frogs are always dull brown in colour. They are very similar to the Leaf Green Tree FrogLeaf Green Tree Frog
The Leaf Green Tree Frog is a species of stream-dwelling frog, native to eastern Australia from the Queensland/New South Wales border south to Sydney.-Physical description:...
, (Litoria phyllochroa) and distribution and call are used to distinguish the two, the differences between the species are discussed on that page. The tympanum is indistinct (it is distinct in L. phyllochroa). There is a black stripe on the side of the head (starting at the nostril) and it continues down the side of the frog, it often gets larger the further down the frog it goes. There is a gold stripe above the black one and follows it in the same direction.
Ecology and behaviour
This species has only recently be separated from the Leaf Green Tree FrogLeaf Green Tree Frog
The Leaf Green Tree Frog is a species of stream-dwelling frog, native to eastern Australia from the Queensland/New South Wales border south to Sydney.-Physical description:...
, Sydney is considered the dividing point for the two species. L. nudidigitus to the south and L. phyllochroa to the north. Although hybridisation is possible around southern Sydney from the Royal National Park
Royal National Park
Royal National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 29 km south of Sydney CBD.Founded by Sir John Robertson, Acting Premier of New South Wales, and formally proclaimed on 26 April 1879, it is the world's second oldest purposed national park, the first usage of the term...
to about Wollongong, being regared as the hybrid zone
Hybrid zone
A hybrid zone exists where the ranges of two interbreeding species meet. For a hybrid zone to be stable, the offspring produced by the cross have to be less fit than members of the parent species, although this condition does not need to be met in the very first hybrid generation...
.
This species is associated with streams and creeks in rainforest and wet or dry sclerophyll forest. It is rarely found away from running water.
Males have a call similar to that of L. phyllochroa, it is composed of a long first note, and followed by a series of shorter notes-eeekkkkk-cruk cruk. Males call during spring and summer from vegetation around a stream.
Litoria nudidigita is an alternate spelling of this species.
Key
For more information in distinguishing this species from Leaf Green Tree FrogLeaf Green Tree Frog
The Leaf Green Tree Frog is a species of stream-dwelling frog, native to eastern Australia from the Queensland/New South Wales border south to Sydney.-Physical description:...
L. phyllochroa, 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 go to, Leaf Green Tree Frog#Key
Sources
- Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney.
- Frogs of Australia-frog call available here.
- Frogs Australia Network