Commonly Observed Native Animals in the NT
Green tree frog (Litoria caerulea)
Family: Hylidae
Other names: Australian green tree frog, White’s tree frog, Dumpy tree frog
Conservation Status
- Australia: Least Concern
- NT: Least Concern
Description
The Green tree frog is one of Australia’s most recognisable and most loved frogs. It is larger than a lot of other frogs, growing up to 10cm in length and living up to 16 years in captivity. The Green tree frog usually has bright green skin (can be dull depending on environment), a white underbelly, and gold eyes. Sometimes they also have white spots on their back. The frog’s skin secretes a fluid said to be antibacterial and antiviral which may aid in medicine.
The species makes a loud ‘brawk-brawk’ sounding call.
Distribution
The Green tree frog often lives close to human dwellings and is regularly found eating any insects drawn to lights at night. It has a large distribution covering all of northern Australia and the east coast down to southern NSW and into north east SA.
In the Northern Territory, they cover nearly the whole state excluding the south west arid region. The species is also native to New Guinea and has been introduced to New Zealand and the United States.
Green tree frogs often live in trees near a water source, swamps, grasslands and peoples homes. They are often found in sinks, pipes, backyards and even people’s toilets!
Ecology
The Green tree frog has a diet consisting of insects, spiders and occasionally other small frogs, geckos and mammals. The Green tree frog relies on a long, sticky tongue to catch most of its prey.
This species is prey to many birds, lizards, snakes and mammalian predators such as the feral cat and dingo.
Potential Threats
While listed as of ‘least concern’, the species is potentially at threat due to habitat destruction and the chytrid fungus which grows on the frog’s skin and causes disease.
Because the lifespan the Green tree frog is comparatively long compared with other frogs, it may take longer to observe a decline in the population.
In the NT, the species is at additional risk from competition, and predation of young, from cane toads. Green tree frogs habitat overlaps with the cane toads where the toad’s tadpoles may out-compete the Green tree frogs for water sources.
