Green Stream Frog

Scientific name: Litoria phyllochroa

Updated

04/02/21
Read time

2 minutes

Green Leaf Tree Frog — Litoria phyllochroa Image: Mark Semeniuk
© Mark Semeniuk

Fast Facts

Classification

Genus

Litoria

Species

phyllochroa

Family

Hylidae

Order

Anura

Subclass

Lissamphibia

Subphylum

Vertebrata

Phylum

Chordata

Kingdom

Animalia
Size Range

4 cm

Description

A medium-sized species of frog reaching up to 4 cm in body length. It has a bright green or olive-green back, which can become very dark when the frog is inactive. There is a thin gold or silver stripe that extends from the tip of the snout to the eye, then behind the eye to just past the arm. There is also a black stripe that follows underneath the gold or silver stripe, beginning from the eye. The belly is white, sometimes with small black flecks. The pupil is horizontal, and the iris is gold. Fingers are only slightly webbed and toes are nearly fully webbed, both with large discs.

Similar Species

Looks very similar to Litoria barringtonensis, Litoria kroombitensis, Litoria nudidigita, Litoria pearsoniana and Litoria piperata. These species can be distinguished most easily by their different calls and distributions. Research that is currently underway at the Australian Museum may reveal more about how to distinguish these species.

Distribution

Found along the coast and ranges between Bellingen and Sydney Region in NSW.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are laid loosely in small groups and attached to vegetation on, or just below, the surface of the water in creek and stream pools, and still ponds. Tadpoles can reach up to nearly 3.5 cm in total length, and are dark or light gold-brown in colour, with gold specks. They often remain at the bottom of water bodies and avoid fast-flowing stream sections, taking at least two months to develop into frogs. Breeds during spring to summer.