Frogs of Australia

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Key guide to Victorian frogs

The Frogs of Victoria project is retained only for the great key guide. Work through a series of questions until, finally, your frog is identified.

Key guide

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Litoria lesueuri

Lesueur's Tree Frog

Also: Rocky River Frog, Stoney Creek Frog, Stony Creek Frog

+ 50 kb Lesueur's Tree Frog (Litoria lesueuri)

One of the largest of the "rocky river" frogs and a very strong jumper, this frog has on occasions been found long distances from water. It is locally common and its distribution extends from Western Victoria to the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales. This frog was previously thought to occur through northern New South Wales and Queensland but the northern populations were described as new species in 2004 - Litoria wilcoxi and Litoria jungguy.

Distribution and habitat

Adults can be found in both wet and dry forest and open areas but more commonly in association with running water. Eggs are laid in streamside pools and backwaters and the tadpoles are active swimmers in running water.

There is a detailed distribution map available for: Victoria.

Calling

Males usually call from rocks on stream or river banks. The call is a series of several similar short soft trills rapidly repeated - "creww crewwk crewwwwk crewwwwwk".

Life cycle

Distinguishing characteristics

Lesueur's Tree Frog (Litoria lesueuri) Copyright Amphibian Research Centre. Photograph by Lydia Fucsko.

+ 46 kb Lesueur's Tree Frog (Litoria lesueuri)

Adult length: 30-55mm.
The eggs are pigmented in jelly clumps attached to vegetation or rocks, or floating. The tadpoles are light brown and the fins are yellowish with brown flecks. Adults have purple/black on the back of thighs and a black stripe passing through the eye and broadening over a distinct tympanum (ear).

Similar species (note: this version was written for Victorian species).

Distinguished from most other hylids (at least in Victoria) by the colouration on the thighs. May be easily distinguished from Litoria peroni (which has similar markings) by having a horizontal pupil.