Litoria castanea tadpole (preserved specimen)
Copyright © Marion Anstis
Distribution map
Distribution Map of Litoria castanea
Copyright © Hal Cogger
Status
IUCN Classification:
Critically Endangered
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Bioregion occurrence:
(this is not a distribution map)
State occurrence:
Links
- Yellow Spotted Tree Frog
AmphibiaWeb page on Litoria castanea
Search on this family or genus
Litoria castanea
Family: Hylidae
Common name: New England Swamp Frog, Yellow Spotted Tree Frog
Description: This frog is dull olive to bright green on its back with bronze and black spots. It has pale green stripe down the middle of its back and the tympanum (tight membrane covering the entrance to the ear) is dark in colour. It also has two cream longitudinal skin folds that run between the sides and the back. The groin and backs of the thighs are blue-green with large cream spots. The belly is white and granular. The skin on the back has lots of warts. The toes are completely webbed with tiny toe pads.
Size: 80 mm
Habitat: This frog lives in permanent water bodies such as lakes, ponds and dams with lots of vegetation around the edges.
Call: A series of grunts - like a distant motorbike. Call available in 
Windows Media or 
Quicktime audio. Recording Copyright © David Stewart.
Breeding: Occurs during spring and summer near large permanent pools.
Tadpoles: Are large and likely to be opaque white with a copper sheen.
Similar species: This frog can be distinguished from Litoria aurea and Litoria raniformis by the cream spots in its groin and small toes pads. L. castanea is also known as L. flavipunctata.
Conservation Information
Suspected threatening processes
- Inappropriate catchment management, including degraded water quality
- Exotic predators (e.g. trout, Gambusia)
- Herbicides, insecticides, eutrophication due to excessive nutrients
- Disease/pathogens (e.g. chytrid fungus, viruses)
- Habitat modification (e.g. vegetation clearing, invasive weeds)
Population size: An estimate of the total number of adults present in the species entire range is 0-1000 individuals. Factors affecting population size and distribution are unknown or unsubstantiated.
Population trend in Australia over the past 50 years: Population size known to be decreasing.
Knowledge of population trend in Australia: Not currently monitored.
Population concentration: Majority concentrates at more than 25 locations. (e.g. the number of sites in which individuals group together either seasonally, such as breeding sites, or they may occupy discrete habitat patches within the broader landscape, such as discrete water bodies or drainage units.)
Ongoing management activities in Australia: Management mostly related to enforcement of conservation laws.
Reproductive potential for recovery: The average number of eggs deposited per adult female per year is >1000 eggs/female/year. Minimum age at which females are known or suspected to first reproduce is 2-3 years.
Range size in Australia: The size of the geographic area over which the taxon is distributed: 1001-80000 km² (up to 1% area of Australia or about the area of Tasmania).
Distribution trend: Area occupied has declined by 75-100%. (This is an estimate of change in the portion of the total range that is occupied or utilised; it may not equal the change in total range.)
Knowledge of distribution in Australia: Broad range limits or habitat associations are known, but local occurrence cannot be predicted accurately.
References
Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney.
Barker, J., G.C. Grigg and M.J. Tyler. 1995. A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty & Sons: Chipping Norton.
Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. Reed Books: Sydney.
Robinson, M. 2002. A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia. Australian Museum/Reed New Holland: Sydney.