Waterfall Frog

Taxobox | name = Waterfall Frog
status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = stable

---

regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Amphibia
ordo = Anura
familia = Hylidae
genus = "Litoria"
species = "L. nannotis"
binomial = "Litoria nannotis"
binomial_authority = Andersson, 1916
synonyms = "Mosleyia nannotis" Wells and Wellington, 1985
range_

range_map_caption =

The Australian Waterfall Frog or Torrent Treefrog ("Litoria nannotis") is a species of tree frog native to Far North Queensland, Australia. The common name of "waterfall frog" is indicative of its habitat of moist, rocky streams, and is often found along waterfalls within its range.

Physical description

The Waterfall Frog is medium sized, reaching 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in) in length. The dorsal surface is mottled with olive green and black-brown. The patterning on the back is similar to its habitat, allowing for effective camouflage against granite. The ventral surface is pale white in colour, and granular. The posterior ventral surface is translucent, showing internal parts.

The toepads of the Waterfall Frog are very large in comparison to toe width, to aid in gripping to rocks in rapids. The nuptial pads of breeding males are also large, covering the entire inner surface of the thumb, with spines also present on the arms and chest. The tympanum is not visible, fingers are partially webbed and toes completely webbed.

Ecology and behaviour

The Waterfall Frog is a stream-dwelling frog native to tropical north Queensland, from Paluma to Cooktown, notable in the Mt. Carbine uplands. It is found at altitudes between convert|180|and|3000|m|ft. It has undergone large declines in high altitude areas (likely from chytridiomycosis), with many populations completely extinct. It is, however, stable in lowland areas.

Like the Stoney Creek Frog ("Litoria wilcoxi"), and many other stream dwelling frogs, Waterfall Frogs lack a vocal sac. This is thought to be because the sound of a running stream drowns out any calls, and it becomes a waste of energy. Their call is a low, growling sound.

Conservation status

It is listed as "Endangered" under both the IUCN Red List and Queensland's Nature Conservation Act 1992.

References

*Cunningham, M. 2002. "Identification and evolution of Australian torrent treefrogs". Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 48(1):93-102. Brisbane, Qld.
*cite web| title=DEH Species Profiles - Litoria nannotis - Waterfall Frog, Torrent Tree Frog| url=http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=1817| accessdate=2006-12-18
*cite web| title=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Litoria nannotis| url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/12148/all| accessdate=2006-12-18

Further reading

*Hodgkison, Simon, Hero, Jean-Marc. 2001. Daily Behavior and Microhabitat Use of the Waterfall Frog, Litoria nannotis in Tully Gorge, Eastern Australia. Journal of Herpetology. 35(1):116-120.

External links

* [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?stat=BROWSE&query_src=photos_fauna_sci-Amphibian&where-lifeform=Amphibian&where-taxon=Litoria+nannotis&title_tag=Litoria+nannotis Litoria nannotis] at CalPhotos
*eol|16980688