Litoria verreauxii verreauxii sightings - Frogwatch ACT and Region

Whistling Tree-frog

Whistling Tree-frog or Verreaux’s Tree-frog has two sub-species: Whistling Tree-frog (Litoria verreauxii verreauxii), widespread and common across eastern Australia, and Alpine Tree-frog (L. v. alpina), which has a very restricted range and has suffered massive declines.

Current conservation status: Common.

Family: Hylidae

Appearance: A terrestrial species with relatively poor climbing ability. It is light brown to red brown above and has a dark brown or black stripe from in front of the nostrils, continuing through the eye to the base of the forelimb. A broad, brownish, mid-dorsal marking, which starts between the eyes and extends to the vent, is also present. The thighs and backs of the legs are red with small black spots, with some larger black spots present on the fronts of the thighs. The belly is white. Green coloured forms of L. v. verreauxii (see image) have been sited at Garuwanga near Nimmitabel and other, higher elevation locations.

Length: 30 to 35mm.

Breeding: Males commence calling in May or June, when winter rains have filled farm dams and other breeding pools, and if weather remains moist, breed through until October or November.

Habitat: Found in the open valleys and cleared pasture country in the region, particularly in areas where there are large shallow pools and stock ponds, During the non-breeding season, they are secretive and rarely seen. Individuals may sometimes be found beneath logs and tussocks or under flat stones in streambeds, or in rocky areas near streams.

Distribution: Abundant in the region.

Biology: Males usually call whilst partially submerged, or floating in water. Amplexus takes place in the water and eggs are wound around submerged vegetation in large jelly-like clumbs. Tadpoles can be found in pools during late spring and early summer, Metamorphosis occurs in early summer with newly emerged froglets being about 15mm in length.

Call: A repeated whistling "cree...cree...cree...cree...cree...".