:Litoria

{{Short description|Genus of amphibians}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| image = Litoria dentata2.jpg

| image_caption = Bleating tree frog (Litoria dentata)

| taxon = Litoria

| authority = Tschudi, 1838

| subdivision_ranks = Species

| subdivision = See text

}}

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Litoria is a genus of hylid tree frogs, sometimes collectively referred to as Australasian treefrogs.

Description

The species within the genus Litoria are extremely variable in appearance, behaviour, and habitat. The smallest species is the javelin frog (L. microbelos), reaching a maximum snout–to–vent length of {{cvt|1.6|cm|in|1}},{{cite iucn |author=Jean-Marc Hero, Dale Roberts, Paul Horner, Richard Retallick |date=2004 |title=Litoria microbelos |volume=2004 |page=e.T41099A10390183 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T41099A10390183.en |access-date=11 November 2021}}{{Cite web|url=http://museum.wa.gov.au/explore/frogwatch/frogs/javelin-frog|title=Javelin Frog Litoria microbelos (Cogger 1966)|date=2013|website=Government of Western Australia}} while the largest, the giant tree frog (L. infrafrenata), reaches a size of {{cvt|13.5-14|cm|in}}.

They are distinguishable from other tree frogs by the presence of horizontal irises, no pigmentation of the eyelids, and their distribution east and south from Wallacea. Over one hundred species are recognised and new species are still being added, such as the Pinocchio frog discovered in 2008 and described in 2019.[https://www.newscientist.com/gallery/dn18919-pinocchio-frog-and-dwarf-wallaby-new-species-found Newscientist.com]{{Cite journal|last1=Richards|first1=Stephen J.|last2=Mumpuni|first2=Mumpuni|last3=Günther|first3=Rainer|last4=Oliver|first4=Paul M.|date=2019-05-14|title=Systematics of New Guinea treefrogs ( Litoria : Pelodryadidae) with erectile rostral spikes: an extended description of Litoria pronimia and a new species from the Foja Mountains|journal=Zootaxa|language=en|volume=4604|issue=2|pages=335–348|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4604.2.6|pmid=31717193|s2cid=181852228|issn=1175-5334}}

Distribution and habitat

The frogs are native to Australia, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, the Lesser Sunda Islands, and the Moluccan Islands. The appearance, behaviour and habitat of each species are usually linked. The small, dark-coloured frogs are generally terrestrial and never, or infrequently, climb. The larger green species are usually arboreal, with some only venturing to the ground to breed.

Species

File:EVERETT’S TIMOR TREEFROG (female) Litoria everetti Meleotegi River, Ermera District, Timor-Leste (USNM 578928).jpg

File:Litoria fallax.jpg

File:Litoria jervisiensis.JPG

File:Litoria nasuta.JPG

While some former species have been moved to the genera Nyctimystes and Ranoidea, the following are recognised within the genus Litoria:{{Cite web|url=http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/index.php//Amphibia/Anura/Pelodryadidae/Litoriinae/Litoria|title=Litoria Tschudi, 1838 {{!}} Amphibian Species of the World|website=research.amnh.org|access-date=2019-12-22}}

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References

{{Reflist}}

Bibliography

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{{Wikispecies}}

  • Frogs of Australia. [http://frogs.org.au/frogs/genus/Litoria Litoria genus ]. Amphibian Research Centre.
  • Frogs Australia Network [https://web.archive.org/web/20090915062927/http://frogsaustralia.net.au/frogs/display.cfm?method=search&genus=Litoria search: Litoria]
  • Cogger, H.G. 1979. Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia. A. H. & A. W. REED PTY LTD {{ISBN|0-589-50108-9}}
  • Tyler, Michael J. 1992. Encyclopedia of Australian Animals: Frogs. Angus & Robertson. {{ISBN|0-207-15996-3}}

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Category:Amphibian genera

Category:Taxa named by Johann Jakob von Tschudi