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
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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.
