Australian Frog Database

Australian Frogs

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Litoria nasuta

Family: Hylidae
Common names: Striped Rocketfrog; Rocket Frog

Description: This frog can be red-brown or yellow-brown on its back, usually with two longitudinal lines of darker warts, ridges and skin folds. This frog has extremely long legs and is very streamlined. A wide dark stripe runs from the snout, through the eye and tympanum (tight membrane covering the entrance to the ear), and breaks up into a series of blotches along the side. This dark stripe is broken by a pale bar in front of the eye and another in front of the arm. A pale stripe also runs from underneath the eye to the base of the arm. The tympanum has a pale rim. The backs of the thighs are yellow with dark brown lines. The belly is whitish and granular. The finger and toe pads are small and the toes are half webbed.

Size: 50 mm

Habitat: This frog lives in open forests and Melaleuca swamps. It is often found near streams, ponds, waterholes and flooded grassy areas.

Call: A fast "wik wik wik" sound.Call available in Windows Media or Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © David Stewart.

Breeding: Males call from spring to early autumn and breeding increases after heavy rain.

Eggs: Are laid in clusters in shallow water, either attached to vegetation or free floating. They usually sink after a disturbance.

Tadpoles: Are medium sized and dark olive-brown, with a pale stripe running down the base of the spine and onto the tail.

Similar species: This frog can be distinguished from Litoria freycineti by its lack of spots on the back of the thighs.

Conservation Information

Suspected threatening processes

• 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. Factors affecting population size and distribution are unknown or unsubstantiated.

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: 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: None directed primarily at the taxon.

Reproductive potential for recovery: The average number of eggs deposited per adult female per year is 51-200 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: > 1,000,000 km².

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

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.