Litoria peronii

Detailed introduction

Peron's Tree Frog ( Litoria peronii ) is a small to medium-sized tree frog commonly found in eastern Australia. It is known for its distinctive "cross-shaped pupils" and striking yellow-black marbled patterns on its thighs and groin. Its call sounds like a gradually increasing "crazy laugh," making it particularly noticeable on rainy nights.

Classification and nomenclature

• Common Chinese name: Peron's tree frog

• English name: Peron's Tree Frog, Emerald Spotted Tree Frog, etc.

• Scientific name: Litoria peronii

• Family and genus: Tree frogs → Litoria

Appearance and Identification Features

Peron's tree frog is not large, but its distinctive features are easily identifiable:

• Size: Adults are generally about 4–6 cm long, with males being slightly smaller than females;

• Back color: The base color of the back is mostly grayish brown, olive brown or light brown, with scattered small green spots or light-colored spots. The green color will be more obvious in a humid environment.

• Pupil shape: The pupil of the eye is distinctly "cross-shaped" (cross-shaped slit), which is one of its most distinctive features;

• Patterns on the sides and thighs: There are very striking yellow and black marble patterns on the groin and inner thighs, which are especially noticeable when the frog jumps or spreads its hind legs.

• Abdomen: The abdomen is light in color, white or cream, sometimes with a few gray spots;

• Skin texture: The back is slightly rough with small warts, and the glands on the sides are not particularly prominent;

• Limbs and suction cups: The limbs are long and slender, with a certain degree of webbing between the toes, and round suction cups at the ends of the fingers and toes. It is good at climbing tree trunks, shrubs and building surfaces.

Distribution range and habitat

Perron's tree frog is a native species to parts of the eastern coast and inland of Australia .

• It is mainly distributed in southeastern Queensland, New South Wales, eastern Victoria, and parts of South Australia;

• It can be found in everything from coastal sand dunes and lowland forests to inland open woodlands and farmland.

It has a wide range of habitat adaptations:

• In natural environments, they are commonly found in woodlands and shrublands surrounding streams, ponds, swamps, and floodplains;

• They also enjoy using artificial water sources, such as farm dams, garden ponds, and roadside drainage ditches.

• They are often found around residential houses, on windowsills, in gutters, near toilets and bathrooms, and are one of the tree frogs that humans often encounter.

Lifestyle

Peron's tree frog is a nocturnal arboreal/semi-arboreal frog .

• During the day, they mostly rest in tree holes, bark crevices, rock crevices, eaves, and other shady and damp places;

• They are most active in the evening and at night, especially before and after rainfall and on nights with high humidity.

• They are skilled climbers and often appear near lights to prey on insects.

Cry

The call of the Peron's tree frog is very distinctive:

• It is often described as a gradually increasing "giggle" or "crazy laughter," starting from a low pitch and gradually becoming louder and more rapid;

• Male frogs often call out from the vegetation or tree branches at the edge of the water.

• On rainy nights, when multiple male frogs croak at the same time, their sounds echo across the water and through the forest, easily attracting attention.

feeding habits

Like most tree frogs, the Peron's tree frog primarily feeds on small invertebrates:

• Various insects, such as moths, beetles, crickets, mosquitoes, midges, etc.;

• Spiders and other small arthropods;

• Occasionally, they may prey on smaller frogs or other soft-bodied prey.

Reproduction and Development

The reproduction of the Peron's tree frog is usually associated with rainfall and water abundance:

• The breeding season typically occurs during warm, rainy periods.

• Male frogs call out at the edges of ponds, dams, slow-flowing streams, and swamps to attract female frogs;

• Female frogs lay their eggs in still or slow-moving water. The eggs are mostly in clusters or small pieces, floating or attached to aquatic plants.

• Tadpoles develop in the water, then transform into tadpoles and crawl onto the shore and nearby vegetation.

• Young frogs gradually transition to a lifestyle that primarily consists of arboreal and shrub habitats.

Protecting the status quo and threats

The Peron's Tree Frog is currently assessed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its overall population remains relatively common within its wide distribution area.

Potential threats include:

• Some wetlands and woodlands have been damaged or altered due to urban expansion, agriculture, and road construction.

• Water pollution, pesticides, and chemicals affect the health of eggs, tadpoles, and adult frogs;

• Climate change has led to altered rainfall patterns and extreme droughts;

• Amphibian diseases (such as chytriditis) can have an impact on local populations.