Australian green tree frog, Litoria caerulea

Detailed introduction

The Australian green tree frog ( Litoria caerulea ) is one of Australia's most famous and closest-to-human-living tree frogs. It is also commonly known as the Australian Green Tree Frog or White's Tree Frog in English. It is relatively large and mild-mannered, often inhabiting windowsills, water tanks, toilets, and bathrooms around residential areas.

Classification and nomenclature

• Common Chinese names: Australian green tree frog, Bai's tree frog, etc. (different translations of the English and Latin scientific names)

• English name: Green Tree Frog, Australian Green Tree Frog, White's Tree Frog

• Scientific name: Litoria caerulea

• Family and genus: Tree frogs → Litoria

Appearance and Identification Features

Unlike many smaller green tree frogs, the Australian green tree frog is significantly larger and has a rounder body.

• Size: Adults typically measure about 7–11 cm in length, making them one of the larger tree frogs in Australia. Females are generally slightly larger than males.

• Body color: The back is mostly bright green, blue-green or olive green, sometimes slightly bluish or brownish depending on the environment and temperature;

• Spots: Some individuals have a few small white spots or light-colored spots on their back or sides;

• Underside: The abdomen is mostly white or cream-colored, while the throat may be slightly yellow in calling male frogs;

• Skin texture: The skin on the back is relatively smooth with a slightly waxy sheen, and some individuals show slight wrinkles;

• Limbs and suction cups: The limbs are strong, and the tips of the fingers and toes have well-developed round suction cups, which are conducive to climbing glass, walls and smooth leaves;

• Overall appearance: Its full and rounded shape gives people a "chubby" feeling, which is its well-known appearance feature.

Distribution range and habitat

The Australian green tree frog is mainly distributed in northern and eastern Australia , with some populations also appearing in the vicinity of New Guinea.

• In Australia, it is mainly found in the northern tropical region and the warmer, more humid eastern region;

• They mostly inhabit rainforests, humid woodlands, and forests near rivers and swamps.

It has a strong ability to adapt to the human environment:

• They are often found near farm buildings, residential houses, gardens, toilets, bathrooms, and water tanks;

• They prefer sheltered corners with water sources and high humidity, such as window frames, drain pipes, under outdoor lights, and the edge of sinks;

• They forage at night where there are lights and insects.

Lifestyle

The Australian green tree frog is a nocturnal, arboreal/attachment frog .

• During the day, they mostly rest in tree holes, eaves, window frame gaps, or other dark and damp places;

• They are most active in the evening and at night, especially during the rainy season and on humid nights.

• They are adept at climbing smooth surfaces such as glass, tiles, and metal, and are often found on bathroom and kitchen walls;

• When faced with danger, they will jump away or hide, and if necessary, emit defensive cries or inflate their bodies to appear larger.

feeding habits

The Australian green tree frog is carnivorous and a master insectivorous creature among amphibians.

• It mainly preys on various insects such as crickets, moths, beetles, cockroaches, and mosquitoes;

• They also prey on spiders and other small invertebrates;

• Larger individuals may occasionally prey on small vertebrates such as frogs or lizards.

They often ambush insects near lights and other places where they gather, using their sticky tongues to quickly capture passing prey, thus playing a certain "natural control" role against mosquitoes and cockroaches in the home environment.

Calling and Reproduction

The male Australian green tree frog has a deep and distinctive call:

• The call is often described as a deep, drawn-out "brawk… brawk…" or "crawk…" sound;

• It often occurs during the rainy season and on warm, humid nights, originating from watersides, drainage ditches, or near water tanks;

• When multiple male frogs croak at the same time, the sound is very noticeable and is one of the representative sounds of a tropical rainy night.

Reproductive activity is closely related to rainfall and still water bodies:

• Female frogs lay their eggs in still or slow-moving water bodies, commonly found in ponds, puddles, and pools.

• The eggs float or sink in clusters in shallow water, and the tadpoles develop in the water.

• After tadpoles complete their metamorphosis, they climb onto the shore and onto the surrounding vegetation, gradually transitioning to an arboreal and attached lifestyle.

Protecting the status quo and threats

The Australian green tree frog is currently assessed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its overall population is relatively stable.

However, in some regions, it may still be affected by the following factors:

• Habitat fragmentation and the use of pesticides and chemicals have led to localized population declines.

• Road damage, pets hunting, and accidental human injury;

• Potential threats from diseases such as fungal chytriditis.

Preserving vegetation around water bodies, reducing the use of pesticides and disinfectants, and providing safe hiding places for frogs around houses all contribute to protecting this friendly and fascinating tree frog.