Desert tree frog

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Desert tree frog
Desert tree frog - Christopher Watson.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Litoria
Species:
L. rubella
Binomial name
Litoria rubella
Gray, 1842
Litoria rubella range.png
Desert tree frog distribution

The desert tree frog (Litoria rubella), or little red tree frog, is a species of tree frog native to Australia, southern New Guinea, and Timor. [2] It is one of Australia's most widely distributed frogs, inhabiting northern Australia, including desert regions and much of temperate eastern Australia. It is one of the few Australian tree frogs to inhabit arid, tropical, and temperate climates.

Contents

Description

Desert tree frogs in a rain gauge Desert Tree Frogs.jpg
Desert tree frogs in a rain gauge

It is rotund, with a small, flat head. It has short arms and strong, short legs. Adults are 28–43 mm (1.1–1.7 in) in snout-vent length. Its ventral surface is white, and the dorsal surface ranges from light grey to dark red and has small black flecks. Adult specimens from Cooktown, Queensland, often show a pronounced metallic sheen on the dorsal surface, ranging in colour from bronze to gold. A dark band runs from the snout, across the eye, and along the flanks of the frog. The throats of males in breeding season are a dark grey colour. The groin is lemon-yellow, and the tympanum is visible. Baby frogs have an almost transparent abdomen, allowing a clear view of their abdominal organs.

Ecology and behaviour

The wide distribution and the large range of habitats it inhabits create a large variation in breeding habits. Populations that live in temperate or tropical zones breed annually during the wet season or summer. However, the populations in desert regions will breed whenever rain occurs. Tadpole development is dependent on the temperature of the water. Small amounts of water heat to higher temperatures, which triggers the tadpoles to develop faster; some develop in just 14 days.

Unlike most desert frogs, it does not burrow to avoid heat and desiccation. It will seek out shelter under rocks, trees, or leaf litter. They are commonly found around human dwellings where water is available and can be found in sinks, toilets or drain pipes.

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References

Sources
Notes
  1. Djoko Iskandar, Mumpuni, Jean-Marc Hero, Dale Roberts, Paul Horner, Richard Retallick, Ed Meyer, John Clarke, Stephen Richards, Fred Parker (2004). "Litoria rubella". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004: e.T41110A10400269. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T41110A10400269.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Litoria rubella (Gray, 1842)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 18 December 2015.