Litoria freycineti
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Litoria freycineti tadpole
Copyright © Marion Anstis
Status
IUCN Classification:
Vulnerable
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Bioregion occurrence:
(this is not a distribution map)
State occurrence:
Links
- Wallum Rocket Frog
AmphibiaWeb page on Litoria freycineti
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Litoria freycineti
Family: Hylidae
Common names: Wallum Rocket Frog; Freycinet's Frog
Description: This frog is pale grey-brown to dark brown on its back with irregular dark blotches, warts and skin folds arranged in rows. The area from the snout to the eyes is pale with a dark central patch. A dark streak runs from the snout, through the eye and tympanum (tight membrane covering the entrance to the ear), and continues down the side. This streak is broken in several places and the tympanum has a white rim. A pale stripe runs from below the eye to the base of the arm. The belly is whitish and granular. The backs of the thighs are brown with large cream spots. The finger and toe pads are small, and the toes are almost fully webbed.
Size: 25 mm
Habitat: This frog lives in a variety of habitats including forests, heaths and temporary swamps.
Call: A fast "quacking" or "yapping" call.Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © David Stewart.
Breeding: Males call in spring and summer after rain.
Eggs: The male kicks the eggs free of the females vent and they are scattered over the bottom of the pond or stream.
Tadpoles: Are medium sized and grey-brown in colour often with darker lines down either side of the spine. These tadpoles develop quickly and can survive very high water temperatures.
Similar species: This frog can be distinguished from other species of Litoria by its thigh pattern, skin folds and ridges and body size.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Direct human impact/urbanisation/tourism
- Inappropriate catchment management, including degraded water quality
- 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 10001-50000 individuals, or size is unknown but suspected to be large. Factors affecting population size and distribution are unknown or unsubstantiated.
Population trend in Australia over the past 50 years: Trend unknown but population size suspected to be decreasing.
Knowledge of population trend in Australia: Monitored locally.
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: Management mostly related to enforcement of conservation laws.
Reproductive potential for recovery: The average number of eggs deposited per adult female per year is 201-1000 eggs/female/year. Minimum age at which females are known or suspected to first reproduce is <2 years.
Range size in Australia: The size of the geographic area over which the taxon is distributed: 1001-80000 km² (up to 1% area of Australia or about the area of Tasmania).
Distribution trend: Area occupied has declined by 25-74%. (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.