The white-lipped tree frog (''Nyctimystes infrafrenatus'') is a species of

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" '' Triadobatrachus'' is ...

in the subfamily

Pelodryadinae Pelodryadinae, also known as Australian treefrogs (although not all members are arboreal), is a subfamily of frogs found in the region of Australia and New Guinea, and have also been introduced to New Caledonia, Guam, New Zealand, and Vanuatu. ...

. It is the world's largest tree frog (the

Cuban tree frog The Cuban tree frog (''Osteopilus septentrionalis'') is a large species of tree frog that is native to Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands; but has become invasive in several other places around the Americas. Its wide diet and ability to ...

reaches a similar maximum size) and is found in Australia. Other common names include the New Guinea treefrog, giant tree frog, and Australian giant treefrog.

Description

The white-lipped tree frog reaches in length. Females are larger than males, and have thicker skin in correlation with the difference in body size. Its dorsal surface is usually bright green, although the colour changes depending on the temperature and background, and can be brown. The

ventral Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...

surface is off-white. The lower lip has a distinctive white stripe (giving this species its name), which continues to the shoulder. The white stripes on the trailing edges of the lower leg may turn pink in the breeding male. The white-lipped tree frog has large toe pads, which aid it to climb. The toes are completely webbed, and the hands are partially webbed.

Ecology and behaviour

The white-lipped tree frog is found along the coastal areas of

Cape York Peninsula Cape York Peninsula is a large peninsula located in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is the largest unspoiled wilderness in northern Australia.Mittermeier, R.E. et al. (2002). Wilderness: Earth’s last wild places. Mexico City: Agrupación ...

and the wet tropics of north-eastern Queensland, Australia. It is the most widely distributed tree frog in the New Guinea region, spanning from eastern Indonesia, through the New Guinea mainland, to the Bismarck and the Admiralty Islands in the north. It lives in

rainforest Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfo ...

s, cultivated areas, and around houses in coastal areas, and is restricted to areas below 1200 m in altitude. It has a loud, barking call, but when distressed, it makes a cat-like "mew" sound or may discharge urine. Males call during spring and summer after rain from vegetation around the breeding site, normally a still body of water. Its diet is mainly insects and other

arthropods Arthropods (, (gen. ποδός)) are invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton, a segmented body, and paired jointed appendages. Arthropods form the phylum Arthropoda. They are distinguished by their jointed limbs and cuticle made of chitin, oft ...

. It can live to over 10 years in the wild. This species of frog is known for being moved around in fruit produce from northern Australia and ending up becoming a

lost frog Lost frogs, also called translocated frogs, frogs which have been relocated, usually accidentally, outside of their original distribution. In Australia a large number of frogs (up to 10,000 a year) transported accidentally while hiding in fruit pr ...

in southern areas.

As a pet

It is kept as a pet; but in Australia, it may be kept in captivity only with an appropriate permit.

Gallery

Giant tree frog444.jpg, Giant tree frog in a Melbourne zoo White lipped tree frog cairns jan 8 2006.jpg, White-lipped tree frog White-lipped tree frog, Cooktown.jpg, White-lipped tree frog Litoria infrafrenata.jpg, A brown white-lipped tree frog Green Tree Snake eating White-lipped Tree Frog.JPG, Green Tree Snake - '' Dendrelaphis puntulata'' - eating White-lipped Tree Frog near

Cooktown, Queensland Cooktown is a coastal town and locality in the Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. Cooktown is at the mouth of the Endeavour River, on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland where James Cook beached his ship, the Endeavour, for repa ...

Австралійська райка велетенська (Litoria infrafrenata).jpg, The white-lipped tree frog (Litoria infrafrenata) in the Kyiv zoo Green Tree Frog 0277.jpg, White-lipped green tree frog

References

* * Cronin, L., (2001). ''Australian Reptiles and Amphibians'', Envirobook, * Cogger, H.G. (2000). Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. Reed Books: Sydney.

External links

Queensland Department of Environment and Science: White-lipped tree frog
��Conservation status and audio of frog call
Frog Australia Network
��frog call available here.
Article Road: List of All Frog Breeds: Things You Can Do to Ensure Your Frog Has a Long, Happy and Healthy Life: White Lipped Tree FrogDepartment of Environment, Climate Change and Water, New South Wales: Amphibian Keeper's Licence: Species Lists
{{Authority control Nyctimystes Amphibians of Queensland Amphibians of Indonesia Amphibians of Papua New Guinea Amphibians of New Guinea Fauna of Timor Amphibians described in 1867 Taxa named by Albert Günther Frogs of Australia