Litoria chloris

Taxobox | name = Red-eyed tree frog
status = LC
status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = stable

---

regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Amphibia
ordo = Anura
familia = Hylidae
genus = "Litoria"
species = "L. chloris"
binomial = "Litoria chloris"
binomial_authority = Boulenger, 1892
synonyms = "Dryomantis chloris"
Wells and Wellington, 1985
range_

range_map_caption = Distribution of the Red-eyed Tree Frog

:"For other species commonly known as the Red-eyed Tree Frog, see Agalychnis callidryas"

"Litoria chloris", also commonly known as the Red-eyed Tree Frog, is a species of tree frog native to eastern Australia; ranging from north of Sydney to Proserpine in mid-northern Queensland.

Description

The Red-eyed Tree Frog is a uniform bright green above, occasionally with yellow spots, and bright yellow on the underside. The front side of the arms and legs are green, while the underside is yellow or white. The thighs may be blue/purple to blue/black in colour in adults. It has golden eyes at the centre, which change to red towards the edge of the eye. The intensity of the eye colour is variable between frogs. The tympanum is visible and a mature frog reaches a size of 65 millimetres.

The tadpoles are generally grey or brown, and can have gold pigment along the side.

A similar species, the Orange-thighed Frog ("Litoria xantheroma") is found north of Proserpine and has orange on the back of the thighs.

Ecology and behaviour

This species of frog is associated with rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest and woodland. The call is several long, moaning "aaa-rk", followed by soft trills. Males call and breeding takes place mostly after rain in temporary ponds, roadside ditches, dams, ponds and creek offshoots where the water is not flowing.

The skin secretions of the red-eyed tree frog have been found to destroy HIV, without harming healthy T cells. [http://www.drugresearcher.com/Emerging-targets/Scientists-discover-HIV-efficacy-from-frog-secretions] The peptides which destroy HIV are the same as those of White's Tree Frog, but the Red-eyed Tree Frog produces it in larger quantities.

References

* Database entry includes a range map and a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
*Cogger, H.G. 1979. "Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia". A. H. & A. W. REED PTY LTD ISBN 0-589-50108-9
*MacMillan, L. 2005. [http://exploration.vanderbilt.edu/news/news_froghiv.htm Frog secretions block HIV infections] . Exploration, Vanderbilt University
* [http://frogsaustralia.net.au/frogs/display.cfm?frog_id=140 Frogs Australia Network] – Frog call available here.

External links