Litoria spenceri
Spotted Tree Frog
Also: Spencer's River Tree Frog, Spencer's Tree Frog

+ 50 kb Spotted Tree Frog (Litoria spenceri)
Currently the subject of intense scientific study, this frog's distribution seems to be rapidly shrinking and it is regarded as endangered. Like Litoria aurea and Litoria raniformis it has been known to bask in open sunlight.
Distribution and habitat

Adults inhabit wet gullies and streams in both wet and dry forest. Tadpoles can be found in moving water, in streams and streamside ponds.
There is a detailed distribution map available for: Victoria.
Life cycle

Distinguishing characteristics

+ 66 kb Spotted Tree Frog (Litoria spenceri)
Adult
length: 42-70mm.
Tadpoles are dark brown with black spots, the fins are flecked with brown. Adults have a warty back, an indistinct or hidden tympanum (ear) and are either green or brown, often spotted or flecked with green.
Visible features
Presented here is the information stored in the frogs.org.au database which is used to identify frogs based on their appearance. It is intended to be used in a key guide for separating species so some of the information (for example, back colours) may be rather non-specific. The system is currently being developed - if you notice errors in the data, please write to Dave Black at the address at the bottom of the page.
Important note: This information details only the appearance of the frog. If an "or" appears in the description, this may mean either that there is some variation within the species or that the feature might be observed differently by different people. For example, if a frog has very small toe pads, it may be listed as having "Toe pads: present or absent".
Size
Up to between 30mm and 60mm
Eyes, hands, and feet
Pupils: horizontal
Toe pads: present
Webbing on feet: half-webbing or full-webbing
Belly
Texture: smooth or rough
Pattern: plain
Colour: single colour
Back
Texture: smooth or rough or warty
Pattern: plain or spotted
Colour: single colour or multi-coloured
Glands and tubercles
Parotoid gland: absent
Tibial gland: absent
Metatarsal tubercles: Non-keratinised glands present (fleshy or uncoloured) or absent
Similar species (note: this version was written for Victorian species).
Litoria spenceri can be distinguished from Litoria nudidigitus by having a warty back. It can be distinguished from Litoria citropa by not possessing a distinct tympanum (ear).
Litoria spenceri image gallery
Breeding activity
The scientific names of Litoria spenceri
- Hyla maculata (Spencer 1901)
- Litoria spenceri (Dubois 1984)
- Litoria spenceri (Dubois 1984)