Australian Frog Database

Australian Frogs

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Litoria chloris

Family: Hylidae
Common names: Orange Eyed Tree Frog; Red-eyed Tree Frog

Description: This frog is bright to dark green on its back. The backs of the thighs are reddish-purple or brown with some iridescent patches. The iris is golden near the pupil and gets redder towards the outside of the eye. The inner halves of the hands are yellow while the outer halves are green - this colour extends up the arm just past the elbow where the colour changes back to yellow. The belly is very yellow and granular. The skin on the back is finely granular. The finger and toe pads are large. The fingers are three-quarters webbed and toes are almost fully webbed.

Size: 65 mm

Habitat: This frog lives in wet sclerophyll forests, rainforests and grasslands.

Call: Long moaning "aaa-rk" sounds followed by softer trills.Call available in Windows Media or Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © David Stewart.

Breeding: Males call from the ground or while afloat after spring and summer rains. Breeding often occurs in flooded ditches, grasslands and streams.

Eggs: Are laid in several small clusters attached to twigs and stems, above or underneath the water.

Tadpoles: Are a medium size and can range from light grey to dark brown in colour. These tadpoles often have gold pigment along their sides.

Similar species: This frog can be distinguished from other Litoria species by its red eyes and the colour of its arms.

Conservation Information

Suspected threatening processes

• Direct human impact/urbanisation/tourism
• Inappropriate catchment management, including degraded water quality
• Disease/pathogens (e.g. chytrid fungus, viruses)
• Habitat modification (e.g. vegetation clearing, invasive weeds)

Population size: An estimate of the total number of adults present in the species entire range is >50000 individuals. Some factors affecting population size and distribution are known, but 1 or more major factors are unknown.

Population trend in Australia over the past 50 years: Trend unknown but population size suspected to be decreasing.

Knowledge of population trend in Australia: Not currently monitored.

Population concentration: Not known to concentrate or exist in discrete locations. (e.g. the number of sites in which individuals group together either seasonally, such as breeding sites, or they may occupy discrete habitat patches within the broader landscape, such as discrete water bodies or drainage units.)

Ongoing management activities in Australia: None directed primarily at the taxon.

Reproductive potential for recovery: The average number of eggs deposited per adult female per year is >1000 eggs/female/year. Minimum age at which females are known or suspected to first reproduce is 2-3 years.

Range size in Australia: The size of the geographic area over which the taxon is distributed: 80,001-1,000,000 km² (up to 12% area of Australia or about the area of South Australia).

Distribution trend: Area occupied has declined by < 25%. (This is an estimate of change in the portion of the total range that is occupied or utilised; it may not equal the change in total range.)

Knowledge of distribution in Australia: Distribution is well known and occurrence can be accurately predicted throughout the range.

References

Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney.

Barker, J., G.C. Grigg and M.J. Tyler. 1995. A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty & Sons: Chipping Norton.

Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. Reed Books: Sydney.

Robinson, M. 2002. A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia. Australian Museum/Reed New Holland: Sydney.

Swan, G. 2001. Green Guide to Frogs of Australia. New Holland: Sydney.