The dainty green tree frog (''Ranoidea gracilenta''), also known as the graceful tree frog, is a species of
tree frog
A tree frog (or treefrog) is any species of frog that spends a major portion of its lifespan in trees, known as an arboreal state. Several lineages of frogs among the Neobatrachia suborder have given rise to treefrogs, although they are not clos ...
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
New Caledonia ( ; ) is a g ...
. It is native to eastern
Queensland
Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...
, and north-eastern
New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
, Australia and ranges from northern
Cape York in Queensland to
Gosford
Gosford is a waterfront city at the northern end of Brisbane Water on the Central Coast in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Gosford Waterfront is known for its boating and scenic views on the shores of Brisbane Water. Gosford is ...
in New South Wales, with a small and most likely introduced population in
Hornsby Heights in
Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
. It is one of two
fauna
Fauna (: faunae or faunas) is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding terms for plants and fungi are ''flora'' and '' funga'', respectively. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively ...
l
emblem
An emblem is an abstract art, abstract or representational pictorial image that represents a concept, like a moral truth, or an allegory, or a person, like a monarch or saint.
Emblems vs. symbols
Although the words ''emblem'' and ''symbol'' ...
s of the
City of Brisbane
The City of Brisbane is a local government area (LGA) which comprises the inner portion of Greater Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia. Its governing body is the Brisbane City Council.
The LGAs in the other mainland state capitals ...
.
Description
The dainty green tree frog is a slender, medium-sized frog, reaching a length of . It is a rich green on its dorsal surface, with a yellow ventral surface. It has a coarse, granular skin with bright orange eyes; some specimens have a light blue ring following the circumference of the eye. The posterior of the thigh is purple-brown or maroon and the
tympanum is visible. In most specimens, a thin yellow or white line runs from its nostril to its eye, and this distinguishes it from the closely related red-eyed tree frog (''
L. chloris'') and
orange-thighed frog (''L. xanthomera''), which both lack this line. If this feature is lacking, the granularity of the dorsal surface and size (''L. gracilenta'' is smaller) will separate it from both ''L. chloris'' and ''L. xanthomera''.
The fingers of ''L. gracilenta'' are three-quarters webbed, while the toes are fully webbed.
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]
Ecology and behaviour
The dainty green tree frog is commonly found in vegetation emerging from the water in streams and swamps, often in temporary water. It is found in a range of habitats, including rainforest, woodland and forest. It is commonly found near human developments, in gardens or farms and often enters houses looking for insects. Due to its common occurrence on fruit and vegetable farms, particularly bananas, it is commonly transported around Australia with fruits or vegetables, frequently becoming a lost frog. This is common among many frog species, and is of concern due to the much faster rate at which it can spread disease.
This species is usually seen after heavy rain during spring and summer. It breeds in flooded grassland and small ponds.[ The males will call during summer after rain, and the call is a long "waa" or "wee". Others describe the call as a long, growl-like 'aarrrc' repeated frequently. Males form noisy choruses during summer breeding season."][ The eggs are laid in a clear jelly lump in water,][ and are attached to vegetation. Tadpole development takes about 14 weeks. The tadpoles are a dark brown colour, with a clear, yellow tinge on the body wall.
]
Captive care
If kept as a pet in Australia, the appropriate permit is required.
References
Further reading
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Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, New South Wales: Amphibian Keeper's Licence: Species Lists
*https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/domestic-animals-act/codes-of-practice/code-of-practice-for-the-welfare-of-amphibians-in-captivity#h2-2
External links
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q2275736
Amphibians of Queensland
Amphibians of New South Wales
Litoria
Amphibians described in 1869
Frogs of Australia