Southern Leaf Green Tree Frog

The Southern Leaf Green Tree Frog (Litoria nudidigitus) is a species of tree frog native to coastal areas and the ranges of south-eastern Australia. It is distributed from just south of Sydney to eastern Victoria.

Physical description

This is a small species of tree frog, up to about 40 millimetres (1.6 in) in length. Adults are normally green on the dorsal surface (although at times they can be brown), however metamorph frogs are always dull brown in colour. They are very similar to the Leaf Green Tree Frog, (Litoria phyllochroa) and distribution and call are used to distinguish the two, the differences between the species are discussed on that page. The tympanum is indistinct (it is distinct in L. phyllochroa). There is a black stripe on the side of the head (starting at the nostril) and it continues down the side of the frog, it often gets larger the further down the frog it goes. There is a gold stripe above the black one and follows it in the same direction.

Ecology and behaviour

This species has only recently be separated from the Leaf Green Tree Frog, Sydney is considered the dividing point for the two species. L. nudidigitus to the south and L. phyllochroa to the north. Although hybridisation is possible around southern Sydney from the Royal National Park to about Wollongong, being regared as the hybrid zone.

This species is associated with streams and creeks in rainforest and wet or dry sclerophyll forest. It is rarely found away from running water.

Males have a call similar to that of L. phyllochroa, it is composed of a long first note, and followed by a series of shorter notes-eeekkkkk-cruk cruk. Males call during spring and summer from vegetation around a stream.

Litoria nudidigita is an alternate spelling of this species.

Key

For more information in distinguishing this species from Leaf Green Tree Frog L. phyllochroa, Pearson's Green Tree Frog L. pearsoniana and Mountain Stream Tree Frog L. barringtonensis go to, Leaf Green Tree Frog#Key

Sources

• Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney.
• Frogs of Australia-frog call available here.
• Frogs Australia Network