Dainty green tree frog | |
---|---|
Ranoidea gracilenta calling | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Family: | Hylidae |
Genus: | Ranoidea |
Species: | R. gracilenta |
Binomial name | |
Ranoidea gracilenta (Peters, 1869) | |
Distribution of the dainty green tree frog |
The dainty green tree frog (Ranoidea gracilenta), also known as the graceful tree frog, is a species of tree frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is native to eastern Queensland, and north-eastern New South Wales, Australia and ranges from northern Cape York in Queensland to Gosford in New South Wales, with a small and most likely introduced population in Hornsby Heights in Sydney. It is one of two faunal emblems of the City of Brisbane. [2]
The dainty green tree frog is a slender, medium-sized frog, reaching a length of 45 millimetres (1.8 in). It is a rich green on its dorsal surface, with a yellow ventral surface. It has a coarse, granular skin with bright orange eyes; some specimens have a light blue ring following the circumference of the eye. The posterior of the thigh is purple-brown or maroon and the tympanum is visible. In most specimens, a thin yellow or white line runs from its nostril to its eye, and this distinguishes it from the closely related red-eyed tree frog ( L. chloris ) and orange-thighed frog (L. xanthomera), which both lack this line. If this feature is lacking, the granularity of the dorsal surface and size (L. gracilenta is smaller) will separate it from both L. chloris and L. xanthomera.
The fingers of L. gracilenta are three-quarters webbed, while the toes are fully webbed. [3]
The dainty green tree frog is commonly found in vegetation emerging from the water in streams and swamps, often in temporary water. It is found in a range of habitats, including rainforest, woodland and forest. It is commonly found near human developments, in gardens or farms and often enters houses looking for insects. Due to its common occurrence on fruit and vegetable farms, particularly bananas, it is commonly transported around Australia with fruits or vegetables, frequently becoming a lost frog. This is common among many frog species, and is of concern due to the much faster rate at which it can spread disease.
This species is usually seen after heavy rain during spring and summer. It breeds in flooded grassland and small ponds. [4] The males will call during summer after rain, and the call is a long "waa" or "wee". Others describe the call as a long, growl-like 'aarrrc' repeated frequently. Males form noisy choruses during summer breeding season." [3] The eggs are laid in a clear jelly lump in water, [3] and are attached to vegetation. Tadpole development takes about 14 weeks. The tadpoles are a dark brown colour, with a clear, yellow tinge on the body wall.
If kept as a pet [5] in Australia, the appropriate permit is required. [6]
The green and golden bell frog, also named the green bell frog, green and golden swamp frog and green frog, is a species of ground-dwelling tree frog native to eastern Australia. Despite its classification and climbing abilities, it does not live in trees and spends almost all of its time close to ground level. It can reach up to 11 cm (4.5 in) in length, making it one of Australia's largest frogs.
The eastern dwarf tree frog, also known as the eastern sedge-frog, is a species of tree frog. It is a small and very common frog and found on the eastern coast of Australia, from around Cairns, Queensland, to around Ulladulla, New South Wales. Individual frogs of this species are often found elsewhere, having been accidentally relocated by transported fruit boxes. Confirmed sightings of breeding pairs have confirmed their survival in Victoria's cooler climate.
The Australian green tree frog, also known as simply green tree frog in Australia, White's tree frog, or dumpy tree frog, is a species of tree frog native to Australia and New Guinea, with introduced populations in the United States and New Zealand, though the latter is believed to have died out. It is morphologically similar to some other members of its genus, particularly the magnificent tree frog (R. splendida) and the white-lipped tree frog (R. infrafrenata).
Ranoidea chloris, commonly known as the red-eyed tree frog or orange-eyed tree frog, is a species of tree frog native to eastern Australia; ranging from south of Sydney to Proserpine in mid-northern Queensland.
Tyler's tree frog or the southern laughing tree frog is an arboreal species of tree frog. It is native to eastern Australia where it occurs from south-eastern Queensland to the southern coast of New South Wales. It is generally a coastal species and is not found inland.
The Blue Mountains tree frog also called the variegated river tree frog is a species of tree frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is endemic to southeastern Australia and is found in eastern Victoria and in southeastern New South Wales. The Jenolan Caves tree frog, a population formerly separated as Litoria jenolanensis, is nowadays included in this species.
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.
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.
The striped burrowing frog is a species of burrowing frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae of the family Hylidae. It occurs throughout much of Australia, from northern New South Wales, through eastern and northern Queensland and into eastern Northern Territory. This species was once included in the genus Litoria or Cyclorana.
The Australian lace-lid, also known as lace-eyed tree frog and Day's big-eyed treefrog, is a species of tree frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is endemic to the wet tropics of north-eastern Queensland, Australia.
The motorbike frog is a ground-dwelling tree frog of the subfamily Pelodryadinae found in Southwest Australia. Its common name is derived from the male frog's mating call, which sounds similar to a motorbike changing up through gears; it is also known as Moore's frog, the western bell frog, western green and golden bell frog, and western green tree frog. The Noongar name for it is Kyooya.Note 1
The northern dwarf tree frog is a small species of tree frog native to northern Australia, from the Kimberly region of Western Australia to Bowen, Queensland, and Aru Islands of Indonesia.
The orange-thighed frog is a species of tree frog native to a small area of tropical northern Queensland, Australia. It has been observed between 100 and 1500 meters above sea level. It is a green frog with distinctly orange eyes, and is very similar in appearance to the red-eyed tree frog.
The rough frog, also known as the woodland water-holding frog, warty water-holding frog, and red-backed cyclorana, is a species of treefrog native to northern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland, Australia.
The common mist frog is a species of tree frog native to north-eastern Queensland, Australia. It is a medium-sized frog and a member of the Australian torrent treefrog group. The common mist frog is found in remote, mountainous areas, and near rocky, fast-flowing rainforest streams such as those in north-eastern Queensland, Australia. They are generally sedentary frogs, and remain in the stream environments that they are born into, preferring sections of the stream with riffles, many rocks, and overhanging vegetation.
Ranoidea vagitus, the wailing frog, is a species of tree frog occupying the arid and monsoonal Kimberley region. It is a ground dweller, which evades dry periods by burrowing and hibernating - emerging to breed during floods.
The knife-footed frog is a species of burrowing frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Australia, where it is found over a wide area in the north of the continent.
"Litoria" castanea, also known as the yellow-spotted tree frog, New England swamp frog, tablelands bell frog, or yellow-spotted bell frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is a critically endangered species of frog that is endemic to south-eastern Australia.
Ranoidea bella is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae, first found in Cape York Peninsula. The species is most similar to R. gracilenta and R. chloris, but can be distinguished from its cogeners by having a large male body size, a "near-immaculate" green dorsum, an orange venter, its bright orange-coloured digits and webbing, the purple lateral surfaces of its thighs, by lacking a canthal stripe, its white bones, and a single-note male advertisement call. It inhabits rainforest and monsoon vine thicket near water.
Ranoidea is a genus of frogs in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. They are found in Australia, New Guinea, and two nearby groups of islands: the Maluku Islands, and the Louisiade Archipelago. The circumscription of this taxon is still controversial.