What do they look like?
The Spotted Tree Frog can be identified by their olive-green colour, mixed with darker patterns across their back. Their belly on the other hand is usually pale. The legs and groin of these frogs are orange and they have quite a bumpy skin. The Spotted Tree Frog start life as a dark brown or black tadpole.
Where are they found?
With around 1000 individuals remaining in 12 isolated populations, the Spotted Tree Frog is at risk of disappearing forever. The small population inhabits rocky streams, from Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales and Alpine National Park, Eildon National Park and Buffalo National Park, and several State Forests in Victoria.
The Spotted Tree Frog has an extremely limited range, swift-flowing upland streams in mountainous areas The species is associated with a range of vegetation communities from montane forest at high altitudes to wet and dry forest at moderate to low altitudes respectively. The extent of riparian forest at known locations ranges from virtually non-existent, with scattered riparian tree or shrub species, to a dense canopy of tea trees, shading the stream.
Fast facts:
1. OUR CONSERVATION STATUS
- National: Critically Endangered
- State: Critically Endangered (NSW), Critically Endangered (VIC)
2. Mortality levels are very high until individuals reach two to three years of age. The oldest individual so far recorded, a female, reached 13 years of age.
Spotted Tree Frog (Litoria spenceri)
Wherever you see the flame symbol on our site you will know that this animal or plant has been directly impacted by the Black Summer bushfires and is in need of your help.
OUR CONSERVATION STATUS
- National: Critically Endangered
- State: Critically Endangered (NSW), Critically Endangered (VIC)
HOW MANY OF US ARE THERE?
< 1,000 individuals
WHERE DO WE LIVE?
With around 1000 individuals remaining in 12 isolated populations, the Spotted Tree Frog is at risk of disappearing forever. The small population inhabits rocky streams, from Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales and Alpine National Park, Eildon National Park and Buffalo National Park, and several State Forests in Victoria.
The major decline in the number of individuals is believed to be due to the introduction of the Chytrid fungus, into a previously disease-free population.
OUR HABITAT
The Spotted Tree Frog has an extremely limited range, swift-flowing upland streams in mountainous areas The species is associated with a range of vegetation communities from montane forest at high altitudes to wet and dry forest at moderate to low altitudes respectively. The extent of riparian forest at known locations ranges from virtually non-existent, with scattered riparian tree or shrub species, to a dense canopy of tea trees, shading the stream.
The Spotted Tree Frog is highly sedentary, the adults and juveniles remain in the vicinity of the stream, rarely venturing far from the riparian zone and have been found sheltering and basking in the adjacent riparian vegetation. Adult Spotted Tree Frogs appear to be generalist insectivores, feeding on a variety of flying insects. While tadpoles are benthic browsers, grazing on filamentous algae, scraping periphyton from rocks, and eating benthic detritus. The benthic zone is the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water such as an ocean or a lake, including the sediment surface and some sub-surface layers.
FAMILY LIFE
Clutches of the Spotted Tree Frog consist of 200 to 1000 eggs. Eggs are laid in narrow spaces beneath large river stones within the stream and eggs are hidden as they adhere to the underside of the rock. Eggs are laid in late spring/early summer and tadpoles reach metamorphosis in late summer/autumn.
Mortality levels are very high until individuals reach two to three years of age. The oldest individual so far recorded, a female, reached 13 years of age.
THREATS TO OUR SURVIVAL
- Habitat loss and fragmentation due to clearance of native vegetation
- Predation of eggs and tadpoles by introduced fish, particularly Rainbow Trout
- Changes to natural water flows and water quality
- Weed invasion of streamside habitats, particularly by Blackberry
- Disease – Chytrid fungus
