Blue Mountains tree frog
{{Short description|Species of amphibian}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=July 2021}}{{Speciesbox
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| image = Blue-Mountains-Tree-Frog444.jpg
| genus = Ranoidea (genus)
| species = citropa
| authority = (Péron, 1807)
| synonyms = {{hidden begin|title = List}} {{Species list
| Hyla citripoda | Péron, 1807
| Dendrohyas citropa | (Péron, 1807)
| Hyla citropa | Péron, 1807
| Hyla jenolanensis | Copland, 1957
| Litoria citropa | (Péron, 1807)
| Litoria jenolanensis | (Copland, 1957)
| Dryopsophus citropa | (Péron, 1807)
| Dryopsophus jenolanesis |(Copland, 1957)
| Dryopsophus citropus | (Péron, 1807) }}
{{hidden end}}
| range_map = Citropa distrib.PNG
| range_map_caption = Distribution of the Blue Mountains tree frog
}}
The Blue Mountains tree frog (Ranoidea citropa) also called the variegated river tree frog is a species of tree frog in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. It is endemic to southeastern Australia and is found in eastern Victoria and in southeastern New South Wales. The Jenolan Caves tree frog, a population formerly separated as Litoria jenolanensis, is nowadays included in this species.
Description
File:Litoria citropa green.jpg
This is a moderate-sized frog, up to about {{Convert|60|mm|in|abbr=on}} in length. Its dorsal surface is brown with a few darker flecks. There is a dark stripe that runs from the nostril, above the tympanum, to the groin. There is a lighter golden stripe above and adjacent to the dark stripe. Their head, arms, legs, and the side of their body are green in colour. The amount of green on an individual frog can range from almost none at all to an all green colour morph. The green colour can occasionally be aqua-green. The armpit, thigh, groin, and inner section of the foot are bright red-orange in colour. The belly is white.{{Cite web|last=Australia|first=Atlas of Living|title=Species: Litoria citropa (Blue Mountains Tree Frog)|url=https://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:2c9aebe9-d647-40dd-ac69-c451c0ab5917|access-date=2021-07-08|website=bie.ala.org.au|language=en-AU}}
Ecology and behaviour
File:Litoria citropa in amplexus.jpg]]
This species is associated with flowing rocky streams in woodland and wet or dry sclerophyll forest. This species has a two-part call, the first is a strong warrrrrk followed by several shorter notes, that sound like a golf ball going in a hole. Males call from streamside vegetation and rocks in the stream from spring to summer, normally after heavy rain.
This species is often found in highland areas, especially the Blue Mountains, hence its name.
The Blue Mountains tree frog is a host of Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mesocoelium.{{Cite web|title=Blue Mountains Tree Frog Interactions|url=https://www.globalbioticinteractions.org/?interactionType=interactsWith&sourceTaxon=NCBI:94770|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-08|website=GLOBI|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709191032/https://www.globalbioticinteractions.org/?interactionType=interactsWith&sourceTaxon=NCBI:94770|archive-date=2021-07-09}} It is also preyed upon by the Australian copperhead.
As a pet
It can be kept as a petMark Davidson. 2005. Australian Reptile Keeper Publications. {{ISBN|0-9758200-0-1}} in Australia, in captivity with the appropriate permit.
Diet
Tree frogs generally eat a variety of insects; in captivity, they eat gut-loaded crickets, their own tadpoles, guppies, spiders, and worms.
Sources
- Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney.
- Robinson, M. 2002. A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia. Australian Museum/Reed New Holland: Sydney.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060525012915/http://frogsaustralia.net.au/frogs/display.cfm?frog_id=141 Frogs Australia Network]-frog call available here.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060819004223/http://fats.org.au/frogs/frogs/lcitropa.html Frog and tadpole Study Group]
- [http://frogs.org.au/frogs/species/Litoria/citropa/ Frogs of Australia]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110320103342/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nature/frogLicenceInfo.pdf Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, New South Wales: Amphibian Keeper's Licence: Species Lists]
References
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
}}
{{Wikispecies|Ranoidea citropa}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1848467}}
Category:Amphibians of New South Wales
Category:Amphibians of Victoria (state)
Category:Endemic fauna of Australia