Jervis Bay tree frog

The Jervis Bay tree frog (Litoria jervisiensis), also known as the curry frog in reference to its odour, is a species of Australian frog associated with wallum swampland along the east coast of New South Wales; ranging from the Queensland border to eastern Victoria.

Jervis Bay tree frog
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Hylidae
Genus:	Litoria
Species:	L. jervisiensis
Binomial name
Litoria jervisiensis (Duméril & Bibron, 1841)
Distribution of the Jervis Bay Tree Frog
Synonyms
Hyla jervisiensis Duméril and Bibron, 1841 Hyla oculata Fitzinger, 1861 Hyla kreffti Günther, 1863 Hyla servesiensis Krefft, 1863 Litoria jervisiensis Peters, 1873 Hyla jervisiensis Boulenger, 1882 Hyla ewingi var. krefftii Fry, 1915 Rawlinsonia jervisiensis Wells and Wellington, 1985 Rawlinsonia kreffti Wells and Wellington, 1985

Description

This is a moderately large species of tree frog, up to 55 mm in length. It is normally brown in dorsal colour and has a large double band on the back starting from between the eyes and down to the vent; this band may be indistinct in some specimens. It has a dark band starting at the snout and ending at the base of the arms. The armpits are coloured yellow and the thighs red-orange. The iris is golden-brown in colour. Toe discs are large and the toes are webbed.

Taxonomy

Until 1994, this species was not recognised as distinct from the heath frog, Litoria littlejohni. The heath frog is larger in size and has orange instead of yellow in the armpits.

Ecology and behaviour

This species of frog is strongly associated with coastal swamps, particularly wallum swampland. Males call in the cooler months, normally after rain. The call is a three-noted "weep-weep-weep". Breeding tends to take place in larger, permanent water bodies.

See also

• Jervis Bay