Tasmanian tree frog

Last updated

Tasmanian tree frog
Litoria burrowsae.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. burrowsi
Binomial name
Litoria burrowsi
Scott, 1942
Lit burrowsae distribution.PNG
Tasmanian tree frog range.

The Tasmanian tree frog (Litoria burrowsae), 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 [2] and handed over to Oswald Scott, who is attributed with the discovery. [3]

Contents

Description

This is a moderate-sized tree frog, up to about 60 mm in length. It can be light green or dark brown on the dorsal surface. The brown form normally has some light brown patches and green flecks, while the green form often has light or dark brown patches. A thin stripe runs from the nostril down the side; this line often expands and becomes marbled along the flanks. The belly is pinkish-white and the thighs are light brown. [4]

Ecology and behaviour

This frog is associated with dams, ponds, and roadside ditches in rainforest, sedgeland, alpine country, and moorland in the west and south of Tasmania. It is often found at higher altitudes. The Tasmanian tree frog often mates after heavy rain, or in the autumn, winter or spring. Males make a goose-like call from vegetation around a water body or while floating in the water during autumn, winter & spring, often after rain. In more coastal regions the males begin calling as early as May with egg-masses having been observed late in May. This is one of three species of frogs, along with the Tasmanian froglet and the moss froglet, endemic to Tasmania.

Diet

The Tasmanian tree frog eats various grasses and occasionally insects. Despite sightings being common, the species' diet is poorly documented; as a result, not much is known about it. [5]

Breeding

Breeding occurs mainly in autumn & winter at lower altitudes and spring and perhaps summer at high altitudes. The species may breed opportunistically at any time of the year after heavy rain. From 70–200+ eggs are laid in loose or more compact clusters attached to submerged vegetation. Tadpoles occur in stationary or slowly flowing water. The larval stage can last for 7–8 months, much less at low altitudes and with warmer environmental conditions. [6]

Related Research Articles

<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">Eastern dwarf tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

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.

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

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.

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

The broad-palmed frog is a species of ground-dwelling tree frog. It is native to much of eastern Australia. They can be found from mid-Queensland to south of Sydney. It is associated with the coast and inland, and is distributed as far west in New South Wales to the South Australia border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common eastern froglet</span> Species of amphibian

The common eastern froglet is a very common, Australian ground-dwelling frog, of the family Myobatrachidae.

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

The striped marsh frog or brown-striped frog is a predominantly aquatic frog native to coastal Eastern Australia. It is a common species in urban habitats.

<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">Tasmanian froglet</span> Species of amphibian

The Tasmanian froglet is a species of ground-dwelling frog that occurs only in Tasmania, Australia.

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

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.

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

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.

<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.

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

Lesueur's frog is a species of ground-dwelling tree frog native to south-eastern Australia, from Sydney, New South Wales, to eastern Victoria.

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

The revealed frog, whirring tree frog, or orange-thighed treefrog is a species of tree frog native to coastal eastern Australia.

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

The southern brown tree frog, also known as the brown tree frog, whistling tree frog, or Ewing's tree frog, is a species of tree frog native to Australia: most of southern Victoria, eastern South Australia, southern New South Wales from about Ulladulla—although this species is reported to occur further north—and throughout Tasmania including the Bass Strait Islands, in which state it is the most frequently encountered frog. It has been introduced to New Zealand, where it can be locally abundant.

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

Haswell's frog is a small ground frog found around coastal swamps in eastern Australia from around Port Macquarie, New South Wales to the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. It is the only member of the genus Paracrinia.

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

The dainty green tree frog, 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 the faunal emblem of the City of Brisbane.

<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. The Noongar name for it is Kyooya.

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

The New England tree frog or glandular tree frog is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae, endemic to Australia. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, temperate shrubland, rivers, and pastureland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Geocrinia laevis</i> Species of amphibian

Geocrinia laevis, the smooth frog, southern smooth froglet, smooth froglet, or Tasmanian smooth frog, is a species of frog in the family Myobatrachidae. It is endemic to Australia and found in Tasmania, southwestern Victoria, and the extreme southeast of South Australia.

References

  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Litoria burrowsi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022: e.T41081A78448009. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  2. "Women's Interests". Mercury. 6 February 1941.
  3. "Australian Faunal Directory". biodiversity.org.au.
  4. "Tasmanian Tree Frog (Litoria burrowsae)".
  5. "DPIW - Tasmanian Tree Frog". Archived from the original on 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
  6. "Parks & Wildlife Service - Tasmanian Tree Frog, Litoria burrowsae". www.parks.tas.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2011-03-15.