White’s Tree Frog

NAME:

White’s Tree Frog

ZOO NAME:

Wirin (“Tree” in Wagiman – aboriginal Australian) and Peapod (both found in Educational Department)

CLASS:

Amphibia

GENUS:

Litoria

SPECIES:

L. caerulea

LENGTH:

4-5″ testing

LIFESPAN:

20 yrs in captivity

DIET:

insects, spiders, moths, smaller frogs

PREDATORS:

snakes, lizards, birds, dogs, and cats

RANGE

Northeastern to southern Australia, New Guinea; introduced to the U.S.A. and New Zealand

HABITAT

In the canopy of trees near a still water source, such as swamps; prefer moist, forest habits

CHARACTERISTICS

The color of a White’s Tree Frog is dependent on background and temperature (range from green to brown). They have large discs on the end of all of their toes for gripping. Males have a gray vocal sac and females have a white vocal sac underneath their chins. The fatty folds over their bodies give them their common name, “dumpy tree frog”.

BEHAVIOR

White’s Tree Frogs, like most amphibians, use lungs and skin absorption to ‘breathe’. Tree frogs keep their skin moist by staying in cool, dark damp areas. Although generally found in the trees, White’s Tree Frogs descend to the ground for mating.

REPRODUCTION

White’s Tree Frogs breed during the summer months. The male deposits a “cloud” of sperm and female expels 150-300 eggs through the sperm cloud. The eggs hatch in 28-36 hours. Metamorphosis from tadpole to frog can take 2-3 weeks under good conditions. These frogs are sexually mature by age 2 years.