White-lipped tree frog
| White-lipped tree frog | |
|---|---|
| File:Litoria infrafrenata - Julatten.jpg | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hylidae |
| Genus: | Nyctimystes |
| Species: | N. infrafrenatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Nyctimystes infrafrenatus | |
| Synonyms | |
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List
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The white-lipped tree frog (Nyctimystes infrafrenatus) is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is the world's largest tree frog (the Cuban tree frog reaches a similar maximum size)[citation needed] and is found in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.[1] Other common names include the New Guinea treefrog, giant tree frog, and Australian giant treefrog.[4]
Description
[edit | edit source]The white-lipped tree frog reaches 11–14 cm (4.3–5.5 in) in length.[5] Its weight is typically 30–60 g (1.1–2.1 oz).[6] Females are larger than males, and have thicker skin in correlation with the difference in body size.[7] Its dorsal surface is usually bright green, although the colour changes depending on the temperature and background, and can be brown.[6] The ventral surface is off-white.[citation needed] The lower lip has a distinctive white stripe (giving this species its name), which continues to the shoulder.[6] The white stripes on the trailing edges of the lower leg may turn pink in the breeding male. The white-lipped tree frog has large toe pads, which aid it to climb. The toes are completely webbed, and the hands are partially webbed.
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In Daintree rainforest, Queensland
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A brown example
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Being eaten by a green tree snake - Dendrelaphis punctulatus near Cooktown, Queensland
_Daintree.jpg){kind=link}
Ecology and behaviour
[edit | edit source]The white-lipped tree frog is found along the coastal areas of Cape York Peninsula and the wet tropics of north-eastern Queensland, Australia. It is the most widely distributed tree frog in the New Guinea region, spanning from eastern Indonesia, through the New Guinea mainland, to the Bismarck and the Admiralty Islands in the north.[1] It lives in rainforests, cultivated areas, and around houses in coastal areas,[6] and is restricted to areas below 1,200 m (3,900 ft) in altitude.[citation needed]
It has a loud, barking call, but when distressed, it makes a cat-like "mew" sound or may discharge urine. Males call during spring and summer after rain from vegetation around the breeding site, normally a still body of water.
Its diet is mainly insects and other arthropods. It can live to over 10 years in the wild.
This species of frog is known for being moved around in fruit produce from northern Australia and ending up becoming a lost frog in southern areas.
As a pet
[edit | edit source]It is kept as a pet; but in Australia, it may be kept in captivity only with an appropriate permit.[citation needed]
References
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- ^ EOL.org
- ^ Barker, J., Grigg, G. C., and Tyler, M. J. (1995). A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty and Sons, New South Wales.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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- Cronin, L., (2001). Australian Reptiles and Amphibians, Envirobook, Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Cogger, H.G. (2000). Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. Reed Books: Sydney.
External links
[edit | edit source]
- Queensland Department of Environment and Science: White-lipped tree frog Archived 2022-02-18 at the Wayback Machine—Conservation status and audio of frog call
- Frog Australia Network Archived 2006-08-23 at the Wayback Machine—frog call available here.
- Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, New South Wales: Native Animal Keeper's Licence: Species Lists
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