Litoria spenceri
Copyright © Graeme Gillespie
Litoria spenceri tadpole
Copyright © Marion Anstis
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Litoria spenceri
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Status
IUCN Classification:
Critically Endangered
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Bioregion occurrence:
(this is not a distribution map)
State occurrence:
Links
- Spotted Tree Frog
Frogs of Victoria page on Litoria spenceri
Search on this family or genus
Litoria spenceri
Family: Hylidae
Common names: Spotted Tree Frog; Spencer's River Tree Frog
Description: This frog is olive-green to grey on its back, with dark spots or mottling. The belly is white or pale yellow and granular. The undersides of the arms and legs are yellowish, while their upper surfaces have irregular cross-bars. The skin on the back ranges from granular to rough. The finger and toe pads are visible. The fingers are slightly webbed and the toes are fully webbed.
Size: 45 mm
Habitat: This frog lives in wet and dry sclerophyll forests, often near rocky streams and creeks.
Call: A "warrrk…cruk..cruk..cruk..cruk" sound.Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © Alistair Stewart.
Breeding: Males call in spring and summer from beside streams. Breeding mainly occurs in late spring and early summer.
Eggs: Are laid in a single clump under rocks, in 10-30 cm of flowing or still water.
Tadpoles: Are medium sized and dark brown with fine gold flecks, and bright gold eyes. These tadpoles seem to rely on camouflage for protection as they remain motionless when disturbed.
Similar species: This frog can be distinguished from other species of Litoria by its distribution, colouration and warty granular skin.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Inappropriate catchment management, including degraded water quality
- Exotic predators (e.g. trout, Gambusia)
- 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 1000-5000 individuals, or population size is unknown but suspected to be small. All major factors affecting population size and distribution are known.
Population trend in Australia over the past 50 years: Population size known to be decreasing.
Knowledge of population trend in Australia: Nation-wide monitoring with statistical sensitivity, or nearly complete census.
Population concentration: Majority concentrates at 6-25 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: Some direct management/interventionist (i.e. manipulation of natural populations) activities in addition to enforcement of conservation law.
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 4-6 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.