Tyler's Tree Frog
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| Litoria tyleri Martin, Watson, Gartside, Littlejohn and Loftus-Hills, 1979 |
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 Distribution of the Tyler's Tree Frog
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Tyler's Tree Frog or the Southern Laughing Tree Frog (Litoria tyleri) is an arboreal tree frog native to eastern Australia. It occurs from South-east QLD to the south coast of NSW. It is generally a coastal species and is not found inland.
[edit] Physical Description
The frog is grey-brown to fawn (of various shades) on its dorsal surface, and a whitish yellow on its ventral surface, females are larger than males and reach a maximum size of about 50mm. It has green flecks on the back. The iris is golden in colour and it has a cross shaped pupil. This species is very similar to the Peron's Tree Frog, (Litoria peronii). The easiest way to tell them apart is by call, however L. peronii has strong black and yellow marbling in the thighs, armpits, hands and feet. L. tyleri has only faint yellow and brown marbling in the legs and armpits, lacking marbling in the hands and feet. This species lacks a strong black line above the tympanum, this line is present in L. peronii. As it is an arboreal tree frog, the toe pads are larger than its toes and fingers, allowing it to grip well on branches. Its hands are partially webbed, toes completely webbed and the tympanum is visible. During breeding males can go a very stong yellow colour.
[edit] Ecology and Behaviour
This species inhabits coastal forest and cleared land. It is normally found around permanent dams, swamps and ponds. Males call from vegetation around the water body during spring and summer, often after rain. The call of this species resembles a short laughing noise, similar to that of the Peron's Tree Frog, however without a downward inflection.
[edit] References
- Hero et al (2004). Litoria tyleri. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is of least concern
- Frogs of Australia - Litoria tyleri
- Frogs Australia Network - Litoria tyleri-frog call available here.
- Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney.
- Robinson, M. 2002. A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia. Australian Museum/Reed New Holland: Sydney.
