Litoria moorei
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Litoria moorei
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Status
IUCN Classification:
Not listed
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Bioregion occurrence:
(this is not a distribution map)
State occurrence:
Links
- Western Green and Golden Bell Frog
AmphibiaWeb page on Litoria moorei
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Litoria moorei
Family: Hylidae
Common names: Moore's Frog; Western Green and Golden Bell Frog; Motorbike Frog
Description: This frog ranges from brown, dull olive to bright emerald green on its back with large brown or golden blotches. A pale stripe runs down the spine. The back is also covered in very large warts that are usually arranged into longitudinal rows. A dark streak runs from the snout, over the eye and tympanum (tight membrane covering the entrance to the ear). Above this streak a cream skin fold runs down to the groin. Another pale stripe runs from below the eye to the base of the arm. The groin and the backs of the thighs are bright blue or blue-green. The belly is coarsely granular and white. The toes are nearly fully webbed.
Size: 80 mm
Habitat: This frog lives in permanent water bodies that have lots of vegetation such as ponds, swamps and dams.
Call: Sounds like a long low growl - similar to a motorbike changing gears.Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © Dale Roberts.
Breeding: Occurs in spring.
Eggs: Are laid in large floating or sunken clusters which often are attached to vegetation at the edge of the water.
Tadpoles: Are large translucent yellow with darker areas. As these tadpoles develop they become darker in colour.
Similar species: This frog can be distinguished from Litoria raniformis by its large warts arranged into longitudinal rows and its distribution. It can also be separated from Litoria cyclorhyncha by the blue-green colour in its groin.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Direct human impact/urbanisation/tourism
- Disease/pathogens (e.g. chytrid fungus, viruses)
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: Population size stable or suspected to be stable or increasing.
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: Broad range limits or habitat associations are known, but local occurrence cannot be predicted accurately.
References
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.