White-lipped tree frog

This article is about the Australian frog. For other uses, see White-lipped tree frog (disambiguation).

"Giant tree frog" redirects here. For other uses, see Giant tree frog (disambiguation).

White-lipped tree frog
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Hylidae
Genus:	Nyctimystes
Species:	N. infrafrenatus
Binomial name
Nyctimystes infrafrenatus (Günther, 1867)
Synonyms
List Hyla infrafrenata Günther, 1867 Calamita dolichopsis Cope, 1867 Pelodryas dolichopsis Meyer, 1875 Pelodryas militarius Ramsay, 1878 Litoria guttata Macleay, 1878 Hyla dolichopsis Boulenger, 1882 Hyla infrataeniata Boulenger, 1885 Hyla spengeli Boulenger, 1912 Hyla militaria Boulenger, 1912 Hyla trinilensis Ahl, 1929 Hyla infralineata Rensch, 1936 Hyla spengleri Loveridge, 1948 Litoria infrafrenata Tyler, 1971 Sandyrana infrafrenata Wells and Wellington, 1985

The white-lipped tree frog (Nyctimystes infrafrenatus) is a species of frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is the world's largest tree frog (the Cuban tree frog reaches a similar maximum size) and is found in Australia. Other common names include the New Guinea treefrog, giant tree frog, and Australian giant treefrog.

Description

The white-lipped tree frog reaches 11–14 cm (4.3–5.5 in) in length. Females are larger than males, and have thicker skin in correlation with the difference in body size. Its dorsal surface is usually bright green, although the colour changes depending on the temperature and background, and can be brown. The ventral surface is off-white. The lower lip has a distinctive white stripe (giving this species its name), which continues to the shoulder. The white stripes on the trailing edges of the lower leg may turn pink in the breeding male. The white-lipped tree frog has large toe pads, which aid it to climb. The toes are completely webbed, and the hands are partially webbed.

• 
  In Daintree rainforest, Queensland
• 
  A brown example
• 
  Being eaten by a green tree snake - Dendrelaphis punctulatus near Cooktown, Queensland

Ecology and behaviour

The white-lipped tree frog is found along the coastal areas of Cape York Peninsula and the wet tropics of north-eastern Queensland, Australia. It is the most widely distributed tree frog in the New Guinea region, spanning from eastern Indonesia, through the New Guinea mainland, to the Bismarck and the Admiralty Islands in the north. It lives in rainforests, cultivated areas, and around houses in coastal areas, and is restricted to areas below 1200 m in altitude.

It has a loud, barking call, but when distressed, it makes a cat-like "mew" sound or may discharge urine. Males call during spring and summer after rain from vegetation around the breeding site, normally a still body of water.

Its diet is mainly insects and other arthropods. It can live to over 10 years in the wild.

This species of frog is known for being moved around in fruit produce from northern Australia and ending up becoming a lost frog in southern areas.

As a pet

It is kept as a pet; but in Australia, it may be kept in captivity only with an appropriate permit.

References

• Menzies, J.I. (1976). Handbook of Common New Guinea Frogs. Wau Ecology Institute.
• Cronin, L., (2001). Australian Reptiles and Amphibians, Envirobook, ISBN 0-85881-186-3
• Cogger, H.G. (2000). Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. Reed Books: Sydney.

External links

• Queensland Department of Environment and Science: White-lipped tree frog—Conservation status and audio of frog call
• Frog Australia Network—frog call available here.
• Article Road: List of All Frog Breeds: Things You Can Do to Ensure Your Frog Has a Long, Happy and Healthy Life: White Lipped Tree Frog
• Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, New South Wales: Amphibian Keeper's Licence: Species Lists