Eastern dwarf tree frog

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Eastern dwarf tree frog
Litoria fallax.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. fallax
Binomial name
Litoria fallax
Peters, 1880
Litoria fallax range.PNG
Eastern dwarf tree frog distribution
Synonyms
  • Hylomantis fallax Peters, 1880

The eastern dwarf tree frog (Litoria fallax), 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.

Contents

Description

Fawn/green colouration of the Eastern dwarf tree frog Litoria fallax bi.jpg
Fawn/green colouration of the Eastern dwarf tree frog

This is a small species of frog; females can reach a maximum size of 25–30 mm, while males may only reach 20 mm when fully grown. It is of variable colour (depending upon temperature and colour of surrounding environment), ranging from fawn to light green on top, and occasionally has black flecks on its back. A white line begins under the eye, and joins the white stomach. A brown line begins from the nostril, and continues across the eye, and between the green (or fawn) and white sections on the top and bottom of the body. This species' toe discs are only slightly larger than the toes, and toes are 75% webbed. Some individuals will have an orange posterior thigh. The tadpoles are bigger than the adult frogs, with a size of 30 mm.

Taxonomy

L. fallax was first described in 1880 by Wilhelm Peters as Hylomantis fallax. [2] [3] The Australian Faunal Directory also considers Hyla bicolor glauerti [4] to be a synonym, with the decision for synonymy being based on Cogger. [2] [5]

Ecology and behaviour

This frog is associated with a wide variety of habitats, including coastal swamps, lagoons, dams, ditches, and garden ponds in forest, heathland, wallum country, and cleared farmland. It lives in reeds and similar plants both near and away from the water, and often inhabits banana trees in the northern areas of Australia, and are sometimes shipped with the bananas throughout Australia. They are known in Australia for becoming lost frogs by turning up in fruit shops outside of their normal range.

Breeding

Litoria fallax tadpole Litoria fallax tadpole.JPG
Litoria fallax tadpole

Breeding occurs at small ponds or dams, which have ample reeds or other emergent vegetation. This species will often breed in temporary water. Its call is a short, high pitched, wr-e-e-ek ip-ip, repeated three or four times. They emit their calls from a single submandibular vocal sac. The males call during the spring and summer seasons, often before and after heavy rain.

About 200-301 eggs are laid at each amplexus, and clumps of spawn contain up to 35 eggs. The minimum tadpole lifespan is 118 days, at a consist temperature of 20 °C. Metamorphosis occurs from January to March, the metamorphs resemble the adults and are very small, only 9–13 mm in length.

Similar species

Litoria fallax spawn Litoria fallax spawn.JPG
Litoria fallax spawn

This species is a member of the dwarf tree frog complex. This species complex is composed of the northern dwarf tree frog (L. bicolor), the Cooloola sedge frog (L. cooloolensis), and the Wallum sedge frog (L. olongburensis), as well as this species. All of these species are similar in size and have a similar ratchet-like call. The species along the east coast often inhabits coastal wallum and acid swamps. Most of these species have more than one common name, with a least one name containing "dwarf tree frog".

As a pet

In Australia, the frog may be kept in captivity with the appropriate permit. [6]

Related Research Articles

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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 semiaquatic.

<i>Litoria</i> Genus of amphibians

Litoria is a genus of hylid tree frogs, sometimes collectively referred to as Australasian treefrogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green and golden bell frog</span> Species of amphibian

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian green tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

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).

<i>Ranoidea chloris</i> Species of amphibian

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler's tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robust bleating tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

The robust bleating tree frog, also known as Keferstein's tree frog, is a species of tree frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. This frog is endemic to coastal eastern Australia, where it ranges from northeastern New South Wales to the NSW/Queensland border. It has also been introduced to Lord Howe Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Growling grass frog</span> Species of amphibian

The growling grass frog, also commonly known as the southern bell frog, warty swamp frog and erroneously as the green frog, is a species of ground-dwelling tree frog native to southeastern Australia, ranging from southern South Australia along the Murray River though Victoria to New South Wales, with populations through Tasmania. This species' common names vary between states; the name southern bell frog applies in New South Wales and South Australia, growling grass frog in Victoria, and green and gold frog in Tasmania. This species has been introduced to New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freycinet's frog</span> Species of amphibian

Freycinet's frog, also known as the wallum rocket frog, is a species of frog. It inhabits coastal areas from Fraser Island, Queensland, south to the Jervis Bay Territory of New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jervis Bay tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

The Jervis Bay tree frog, also known as the curry frog in reference to its odour, is a species of Australian frog associated with wallum swampland along the east coast of New South Wales; ranging from the Queensland border to eastern Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whistling tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

The whistling tree frog (Litoria verreauxii), or Verreaux's tree frog, is a species of frog found in Australia. It has been divided into two subspecies, the nominate Verreaux's tree frog and the Verreaux's alpine tree frog. The alpine tree frog is restricted to the southern alps of New South Wales and Victoria. Verreaux's tree frog is widespread throughout south-eastern Queensland, coastal and highland regions of New South Wales, and south-eastern Victoria.

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The Tasmanian tree frog, also known as king tree frog, is a species of tree frog that is found on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia. It was first found by Myrtle Burrows in 1941, at Cradle Mountain and handed over to Oswald Scott, who is attributed with the discovery.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Littlejohn's tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

Littlejohn's tree frog, also called a heath frog or orange-bellied tree frog, is a species of tree frog native to eastern Australia from Wyong, New South Wales, to Buchan, Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorbike frog</span> Species of amphibian

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern dwarf tree frog</span>

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.

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 Cooloola sedge frog or Cooloola tree frog is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae.

The Wendessi tree frog is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae.

Eastern tree frog may refer to:

References

  1. Hero, J.-M.; Meyer, E.; Clarke, J. (2009). "Litoria fallax". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Australian Faunal Directory: Litoria fallax". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  3. Peters, W. (1880). "Mitteilung über neue oder weniger bekannte Amphibien des Berliner Zoologischen Museums". Monatsberichte der Königlichen Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. 1880: 217-224 [1881 on title page] [224, fig. 4].
  4. Copland, S.J. (1957). "Presidential address. Australian tree frogs of the genus Hyla". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 82: 9–108 [16].
  5. Cogger, H.G. (1983), Cogger, H.G.; Cameron, E.E.; Cogger, H.M. (eds.), "Amphibia and Reptilia", Zoological Catalogue of Australia, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service, 1: 43
  6. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, New South Wales: Amphibian Keeper's Licence: Species Lists

Other sources