Desert Tree Frog

Desert Tree Frog
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Hylidae
Genus:	Litoria
Species:	L. rubella
Binomial name
Litoria rubella Gray, 1842

The Desert Tree Frog or Little Red Tree Frog (Litoria rubella) is a tree frog native to Australia and southern New Guinea. It is one of Australia's most widely distributed frogs, inhabiting northern Australia, including desert regions and much of temperate eastern Australia. It is one of the few Australian tree frogs which inhabits arid, tropical and temperate climates.

Physical description

The Desert Tree Frog is rotund, with a small, flat head. It has short arms, and strong, short legs. Adults: 28-43 mm. Its ventral surface is white, and the dorsal surface ranges from light grey to dark red, and has small black flecks. Adult specimens from Cooktown, Queensland, often show a pronounced metallic sheen on the dorsal surface ranging in colour from bronze to gold. A dark band runs from the snout, through the eye and along the flanks of the frog. The throat of males in breeding season is a dark grey colour. The groin is lemon-yellow, and the tympanum is visible. Baby frogs have an almost transparent abdomen allowing a clear view of their abdominal organs.

Ecology and behaviour

The wide distribution and large range of habitats the Desert Tree Frog inhabits creates large variation in breeding habits. Populations which live in temperate or tropical zones breed annually during the wet season or summer. However, the populations in desert regions will breed whenever rain occurs. Tadpole development is dependent on the temperature of the water. Small amounts of water heat to higher temperatures, which triggers the tadpoles to develop faster; some will develop in just 14 days.

Unlike most desert frogs, the Desert Tree Frog does not burrow to avoid heat and desiccation. It will seek out shelter under rocks, trees or leaf litter. Desert Tree Frogs are commonly found around human dwellings, where water is available, and can be found in sinks or drain pipes.

References

Desert Tree Frogs in a rain gauge.

• Barker, J.; Grigg, G.C. & Tyler, M.J. (1995). A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty & Sons. ISBN 0-949324-61-2. 
• Tyler, Michael J. 1992. Encyclopedia of Australian Animals: Frogs. Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0-207-15996-3
• "Amphibian Species of the World - Litoria rubella (Gray, 1842)". http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/references.php?id=13743. Retrieved 2006-08-27. 

1. ^ Djoko Iskandar, Mumpuni, Jean-Marc Hero, Dale Roberts, Paul Horner, Richard Retallick, Ed Meyer, John Clarke, Stephen Richards, Fred Parker (2004). Litoria rubella. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 11 April 2009.

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This Pelodryadinae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: IUCN Red List least concern species Litoria Amphibians of Queensland Amphibians of New South Wales Amphibians of South Australia Amphibians of Western Australia Amphibians of the Northern Territory Pelodryadinae stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР Deadly Intentions Classical Indian musical theatre Look at other dictionaries: Tree — /tree/, n. Sir Herbert Beerbohm /bear bohm/, (Herbert Beerbohm), 1853 1917, English actor and theater manager; brother of Max Beerbohm. * * * I Woody perennial plant. Most trees have a single self supporting trunk containing woody tissues, and in …   Universalium tree — treelike, adj. /tree/, n., v., treed, treeing. n. 1. a plant having a permanently woody main stem or trunk, ordinarily growing to a considerable height, and usually developing branches at some distance from the ground. 2. any of various shrubs,… …   Universalium Magic Tree House series — Magic Tree House   Author(s) Mary Pope Osborne Illustrator …   Wikipedia List of amphibians of Western Australia — This is a list of amphibians of Western Australia. They are all frogs.cite journal | author = Aplin, K. P. and Smith, L. A. | year = 2001 | title = Checklist of the frogs and reptiles of Western Australia | journal = Records of the Western… …   Wikipedia List of amphibians of South Australia — This is a list of amphibians of South Australia. They are all frogs.* Cyclorana cultripes (Knife footed Frog) * Cyclorana maini (Main s Frog) * Cyclorana platycephala (Water holding Frog) * Crinia deserticola (Desert Froglet) * Crinia… …   Wikipedia Litoria — Taxobox name = Litoria image width = 240px image caption = White s Tree Frog ( Litoria caerulea ) regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata subphylum = Vertebrata classis = Amphibia subclassis = Lissamphibia ordo = Anura subordo = Neobatrachia familia …   Wikipedia Litoria rubella —   Desert Tree Frog …   Wikipedia Español Life Sciences — ▪ 2009 Introduction Zoology       In 2008 several zoological studies provided new insights into how species life history traits (such as the timing of reproduction or the length of life of adult individuals) are derived in part as responses to… …   Universalium List of endangered animal species — This is a list of endangered animal species according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List. The list includes endangered species of the kingdom Animalia. NOTOC A* Acheilognathus elongatus * Acipenser Endangered * Acrocephalus… …   Wikipedia Anura — ▪ amphibian order Introduction also called  Salientia    one of the major extant orders of the class Amphibia (amphibian). It includes the frogs (frog) and toads (toad), which, because of their wide distribution, are known by most people around… …   Universalium 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”