Kroombit tree frog

Kroombit tree frog
Conservation status
Critically endangered  (EPBC Act)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Hylidae
Genus:	Ranoidea
Species:	R. kroombitensis
Binomial name
Ranoidea kroombitensis (Hoskin et al, 2013) Dubois & Frétey, 2016
Synonyms
Litoria kroombitensis Hoskin, Hines, Meyer, Clarke & Cunningham, 2013 Dryopsophus kroombitensis Duellman, Marion & Hedges, 2016

The Kroombit tree frog (Ranoidea kroombitensis), or Kroombit treefrog, is a species of small frog that is endemic to Australia.

Description

The species grows to not more than about 45 mm in length (SVL), with females being on average some 25% longer than males. Colouration is mostly green or greenish-brown with orange on the thighs and thin gold lines extending over the eyes and tympanums to the front limbs. The mating call is a short whine followed by one or two chirps.

Behaviour

The species is a stream breeder, laying clumps of 100–300 eggs embedded in jelly which are wrapped around submerged twigs in still or slow-flowing water.

Distribution and habitat

The species is found in the Central Highlands Region of Queensland, where it is restricted to the headwaters of five streams rising on the eastern side of Kroombit Tops, an ecologically isolated plateau covered with temperate wet forests, with an altitudinal range of 550–900 m, that is surrounded by subtropical woodlands.

Conservation

Although the species is protected by the Kroombit Tops National Park, threats to the population include the fungal disease chytridiomycosis; habitat degradation and water fouling caused by the activities of feral cattle, horses and pigs; as well as the impact of climate change, such as increased frequency and severity of bushfires. The species is listed as Critically Endangered under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.