Tyler's tree frog

Tyler's tree frog
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Hylidae
Genus:	Litoria
Species:	L. tyleri
Binomial name
Litoria tyleri Martin, Watson, Gartside, Littlejohn and Loftus-Hills, 1979
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Distribution of the Tyler's Tree Frog
Synonyms
Pengilleyia tyleri Wells and Wellington, 1985

Tyler's tree frog or the southern laughing tree frog (Litoria tyleri) is an arboreal tree frog native to eastern Australia. It occurs from southeast Queensland to the south coast of New South Wales. It is generally a coastal species and is not found inland.

Description

File:Litoria tyleri amplexus.jpg

A pair of Tyler's tree frogs in amplexus: the male is in typical breeding yellow colouration.

This frog is grey-brown to fawn (of various shades) on its dorsal surface, and a whitish-yellow on its ventral surface. Females are larger than males and reach a maximum size of about 50 mm. It has green flecks on the back. The iris is golden in colour and it has cross-shaped pupils. This species is very similar to the Peron's tree frog, (Litoria peronii). The easiest way to tell them apart is by call, butr L. peronii has strong black and yellow marbling in the thighs, armpits, hands and feet. L. tyleri has only faint yellow and brown marbling in the legs and armpits, lacking marbling in the hands and feet. This species lacks a strong black line above the tympanum, this line is present in L. peronii. As it is an arboreal frog, the toe pads are larger than its toes and fingers, allowing it to grip well on branches. Its hands are partially webbed, its toes are completely webbed, and the tympanum is visible. During breeding, males can turn a very strong yellow colour.

Ecology and behaviour

This species inhabits coastal forest and cleared land. It is normally found around permanent dams, swamps, and ponds. Males call from vegetation around the water body during spring and summer, often after rain. The call of this species resembles a short laughing noise, similar to that of the Peron's tree frog, but without a downward inflection.

As a pet

It is kept as a pet; in Australia, this animal may be kept in captivity with the appropriate permit.

References

• Stephen Richards, Richard Zweifel. 2004. Litoria michaeltyleri. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
• Frogs of Australia - Litoria tyleri
• Frogs Australia Network - Litoria tyleri-frog call available here.
• Article Road: List of All Frog Breeds: Things You Can Do to Ensure Your Frog Has a Long, Happy and Healthy Life: Tyler's Tree Frog
• Department of Environment and Heritage: Frog Keeper's License
• Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, New South Wales: Amphibian Keeper's Licence: Species Lists

External links

• Tyler's tree frog at the Encyclopedia of Life