Details
Ranoidea caerulea
The Australian green tree frog is a large, rounded treefrog from northern Australia and New Guinea. Its pale belly, calm temperament and habit of using buildings make it familiar around homes.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It lives in tropical and subtropical forest, savanna, wetlands and riverine woodland, and readily uses gardens, tanks and house walls. In dry spells it shelters in damp crevices and becomes active with rain.
Adults are about 7-11.5 cm long, with females larger than males. The back ranges from bright green to blue-green or brown, the skin is smooth, and the toes have large adhesive pads.
Nocturnal by habit, it rests by day in tree hollows, buildings or foliage. Toe pads allow it to climb vertical surfaces, and rainy nights draw adults toward pools and artificial water sources.
Insects, spiders and other small invertebrates dominate the diet, though small frogs and lizards may also be taken. It waits in ambush and lunges at prey within reach.
Males call with a low note during the wet season and breed in ponds or temporary pools. Females lay eggs on the water surface, and tadpoles develop in warm shallow water.
The species is widespread and common, and it is also popular in captivity. Skin secretions help protect against drying and microbes and have attracted biomedical interest.
