Litoria verreauxii
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Litoria verreauxii
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
- Verreaux's Tree Frog
Wildlife of Sydney Fact File on Litoria verreauxii
Search on this family or genus
Litoria verreauxii verreauxii
Family: Hylidae
Common names: Whistling Treefrog; Verreaux's Frog
Description: The colour patterns of this frog vary a lot between individuals. The lowland populations can range from fawn, brown to red-brown on their backs with darker flecks. A dark broad band starts between the eyes and runs down the back. This broad band is divided by a pale stripe running down the spine. A dark stripe runs from the nostril to the eye. Behind the eye the stripe broadens to enclose the tympanum (tight membrane covering the entrance to the ear) and then breaks into a series of blotches down the side of the body. A white stripe runs from below the eye to the base of the arm. The groin and thighs are yellow or red-orange, and the groin has black spots or blotches.
The mountain populations of this frog are similar to the lowland forms except the patches on the back and sides are green with brown edges. Frogs from both populations have: white, granular bellies; smooth or granular skin on the back with a few low warts; small finger and toe discs; and half webbed toes.
Size: 30 mm
Habitat: This frog lives in a variety of habitats including wet and dry sclerophyll forests, alpine grasslands and bogs, plus coastal swamps and lagoons.
Call: A "weep...weep...weep" sound. Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © Murray Littlejohn.
Breeding: Males from mountain populations call during spring summer and early autumn, often after rain. Males in lowland populations call most of the year, but breed mainly from late winter to summer.
Eggs: Are laid in clusters in the water attached to stems and twigs.
Tadpoles: Are medium sized and range from being clear yellow with darker areas through to brown and black.
Similar species: This frog can be distinguished from Litoria ewingii and Litoria paraewingi by the divided broad band on its back and its spotted groin.
Other characteristics: The two populations of this species have been split into subspecies: Litoria verreauxii verreauxii (lowland populations) and Litoria verreauxii alpina (mountain populations).
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. 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 trend unknown; no information on habitat changes.
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 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: > 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.