Binghamton Zoo Animals

White’s Tree Frog

(Litoria caerulea)
Order: Anuran
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Litoria
Species: Litoria caerulea

HABITAT AND RANGE: They live in thickets, swamps and moist woodlands in northern and eastern Australia, islands in the Torres Strait and have been introduced to New Zealand.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: White’s Tree Frogs are an unusually portly species with stout limbs and large, sticky toe pads that enable them to ascend and cling to smooth, vertical surfaces. They are rather large among tree frogs. Large females may grow up to 4 inches in length. Herpetologists generally recognize two types of White Tree Frog. They are distinguished by the geographic location of their home range. Australian White’s Tree Frog is typically bright apple green on their dorsal surface and white underneath. Some specimens are seen in the wild. A fold of skin, called supratympanic ridge, covers each eardrum. Though it has not been given status as a separate species, Indonesian White’s Tree Frogs are typically a dull brownish-green with white bellies. The supratympanic ridges are much more pronounced, nearly covering the eyes of many females. There is some dimorphism between the sexes in both the Australian and Indonesian specimens. Males may also be distinguished during the breeding season by the enlarged “nuptial pads” on the inside of their “thumbs”. At this time, females are noticeably sw

ADAPTATIONS: White’s Tree Frogs are commonly found living in close proximity to people. The wet areas created by bathrooms, water tanks and drainage systems make ideal habitats for these frogs. White’s Tree Frogs are territorial, establishing a series of regular perches from which they rarely stray far from in search of either food or mates. Primarily nocturnal, they can tolerate temperatures as low as 65 degrees Fahrenheit. They spend the heat of the day hiding in cool, moist places. Known for their calmness and easy maintenance in captivity, White’s Tree Frogs have long been a favorite among herpetologists.this is the start of the descriptive copy

DIET: White’s Tree Frogs feed on large insects and other invertebrates. At the Zoo, they are fed crickets.

REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT: Breeding occurs during the rainy season, following a period of cool, dry conditions. The nightly rain stimulates the males to begin calling to attract females. There is some evidence to suggest that the female’s hearing is attuned to the specific frequency of the deep “wark, wark, wark” sound made by the male of her species. Mating usually takes place within a week after the males begin to vocalize. Females lay up to 3,000 eggs in a pool of water. Incubated at 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit, the eggs begin to hatch within 28-36 hours. After emerging from the eggs, tadpoles lie quietly at the bottom of the pool for about 24 hours before swimming up to cling onto aquatic plants where they will feed until metamorphosis. The froglets emerge a dull gray color and gradually turn green as they are exposed to sunlight.

STATUS IN WILD: They are very common in their home range and have been commercially captive-bred for the pet trade in the U.S. and Europe since the early 1980s.