Litoria verreauxii verreauxii (Whistling Tree-frog)

<p>Whistling Tree-frog or Verreaux&rsquo;s Tree-frog has two sub-species: Whistling Tree-frog (<em>Litoria verreauxii verreauxii</em>), widespread and common across eastern Australia, and <a href="../../Community/Species/23466">Alpine Tree-frog</a> (<em>L. v. alpina</em>), which has a very restricted range and has suffered massive declines.</p> <p><strong>Current conservation status:</strong> Common.</p> <p><strong>Family:</strong> Hylidae</p> <p><strong>Appearance: </strong>A terrestrial species with relatively poor climbing ability. It is light brown to red brown above and has a dark brown or black stripe from in front of the nostrils, continuing through the eye to the base of the forelimb. A broad, brownish, mid-dorsal marking, which starts between the eyes and extends to the vent, is also present. The thighs and backs of the legs are red with small black spots, with some larger black spots present on the fronts of the thighs. The belly is white. Green coloured forms of <em>L. v. verreauxii</em> (see image) have been sited at Garuwanga near Nimmitabel and other, higher elevation locations.</p> <p><strong>Length:&nbsp; </strong>30 to 35mm.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Breeding:</strong> Males commence calling in May or June, when winter rains have filled&nbsp; farm dams and other breeding pools, and if weather remains moist, breed through until October or November.</p> <p><strong>Habitat:</strong> Found in the open valleys and cleared pasture country in the region, particularly in areas where there are large shallow pools and stock ponds, During the non-breeding season, they are secretive and rarely seen. Individuals may sometimes be found beneath logs and tussocks or under flat stones in streambeds, or in rocky areas near streams.</p> <p><strong>Distribution:&nbsp;</strong>Abundant in the region.<strong><br /></strong></p> <p><strong>Biology:</strong> Males usually call whilst partially submerged, or floating in water. Amplexus takes place in the water and eggs are wound around submerged vegetation in large jelly-like clumbs. Tadpoles can be found in pools during late spring and early summer, Metamorphosis occurs in early summer with newly emerged froglets being about 15mm in length.</p> <p><strong>Call</strong>: A repeated whistling "cree...cree...cree...cree...cree...".</p>,<p>Whistling Tree-frog or Verreaux’s Tree-frog has two sub-species, Whistling Tree-frog (Litoria verreauxii verreauxii), which is widespread and common across eastern Australia, and Alpine Tree-frog (L. v. alpina), which has a very restricted range and has suffered massive declines; it is currently listed as critically endangered. Both reach a maximum size of 35mm. <p>Whistling Tree-frog (L. v. verreauxii) is light brown to red brown above, with an often indistinct, broad, darker patch starting between the eyes and continuing over the back. A dark band starting at the nostril runs across the eye and down to the shoulder, underlined by a white line starting at the mouth. The thighs and backs of the legs are red with small black spots, with some larger black spots present on the fronts of the thighs. <p>Alpine Tree-frog (L. v. alpina) is mostly green on the dorsal surface with two brown bands running parallel to each other down the back. These bands start at the eye and are separated by a narrow band of green. The thighs and backs of the legs are the same as above. The belly of both subspecies is white. <>Whistling Tree-frog inhabits swamps, dam impoundments, and creeks in woodland, farmland, forest and cleared land. Males call from pond-side vegetation or from the ground all year round, but calling intensifies during autumn and spring and after rain. As its name implies, this frog makes a whistling noise. The alpine tree frog inhabits alpine ponds and pools of creeks in moorland, alpine forest and partly cleared land. Males have a similar call as above and call from beside the breeding sites during spring and summer. Green coloured forms of L. v. verreauxii (see image) have been sited at Garuwanga near Nimmitabel. <p>Chytrid fungus is believed to be partly responsible for the decline of the alpine subspecies. (Wikipedia). <p>Current conservation status: Common <p>Distribution: Widespread in ACT Region.