Frogs Australia Network - Australian Frog Database - Litoria citropa - Blue Mountains Tree Frog (original) (raw)

Litoria citropa

Family: Hylidae

Common name: Blue Mountains Tree Frog

Description: This frog is light brown above with darker flecks. A dark streak runs from the snout, through the eye over the tympanum (tight membrane covering the entrance to the ear), and down the side of the body. A pale stripe runs above this streak to the base of the arm. The sides of the head, some of the arms and legs, and the sides of the body including part of the back are bright green. The armpits, groin, backs of thighs and inner parts of the feet are orange-red in colour. The belly is white and coarsely granular. The skin on the back is smooth or finely granular with some warts. The finger and toe pads are large and the toes are half webbed.

Size: 60 mm

Habitat: This frog lives in woodlands, wet and dry schlerophyll forests, and heaths. It is usually found near rocky streams, under rocks and in crevices.

Breeding: Males call in spring and summer either from the water or beside it.

Eggs: Once the eggs are fertilised the female kicks the water with her back legs dispersing the eggs. They spread out and sink, landing on the substrate.

Tadpoles: Are small and sandy gold with darker flecks which become more obvious as the tadpoles develop.

Similar species: This frog can be distinguished from Litoria subglandulosa by its distinct tympanum.

Conservation Information

Suspected threatening processes

Inappropriate catchment management, including degraded water quality
Herbicides, insecticides, eutrophication due to excessive nutrients
Disease/pathogens (e.g. chytrid fungus, viruses)
Habitat modification (e.g. vegetation clearing, invasive weeds)

Population size: An estimate of the total number of adults present in the species entire range is >50000 individuals. Factors affecting population size and distribution are unknown or unsubstantiated.

Population trend in Australia over the past 50 years: Trend unknown but population size suspected to be decreasing.

Knowledge of population trend in Australia: Not currently monitored.

Population concentration: Majority concentrates at more than 25 locations. (e.g. the number of sites in which individuals group together either seasonally, such as breeding sites, or they may occupy discrete habitat patches within the broader landscape, such as discrete water bodies or drainage units.)

Ongoing management activities in Australia: None directed primarily at the taxon.

Reproductive potential for recovery: The average number of eggs deposited per adult female per year is >1000 eggs/female/year. Minimum age at which females are known or suspected to first reproduce is 2-3 years.

Range size in Australia: The size of the geographic area over which the taxon is distributed: 80,001-1,000,000 km² (up to 12% area of Australia or about the area of South Australia).

Distribution trend: Area occupied has declined by < 25%. (This is an estimate of change in the portion of the total range that is occupied or utilised; it may not equal the change in total range.)

Knowledge of distribution in Australia: Broad range limits or habitat associations are known, but local occurrence cannot be predicted accurately.

References

Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney.

Barker, J., G.C. Grigg and M.J. Tyler. 1995. A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty & Sons: Chipping Norton.

Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. Reed Books: Sydney.

Robinson, M. 2002. A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia. Australian Museum/Reed New Holland: Sydney.