Freycinet's frog (''Litoria freycineti''), also known as the wallum rocket frog, is a species of

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" ''Triadobatrachus'' is ...

. It inhabits coastal areas from

Fraser Island Fraser Island ( Butchulla: ) is a World Heritage-listed island along the south-eastern coast in the Wide Bay–Burnett region, Queensland, Australia. The island is approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane, and is within the Fras ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

, south to the

Jervis Bay Territory The Jervis Bay Territory (; JBT) is an internal territory of Australia. It was established in 1915 from part of New South Wales (NSW), in order to give the landlocked Australian Capital Territory (ACT) access to the sea. It was administered ...

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Description

This is a variable species of

, reaching 45 mm in length. It is normally brown on the dorsal surface with large lighter or darker patches or raised dots; in some specimens, these patches can be very indistinct to almost nonexistent. A triangular shape of the same colour as the patches is present on the snout, another larger triangular shape is present behind the eyes, almost looking like a reflection to the one on the snout. The

iris Iris most often refers to: *Iris (anatomy), part of the eye *Iris (mythology), a Greek goddess * ''Iris'' (plant), a genus of flowering plants * Iris (color), an ambiguous color term Iris or IRIS may also refer to: Arts and media Fictional ent ...

is a rusty colour in the upper half and brown-grey in the bottom. A white bar extends from in front of the eye around the tympanum and to the arm. The lower lip is marbled black and white. The pads on the fingers are small. The underbelly is white and the throat in males is darker.

Ecology and behaviour

Despite its name, this species occurs as frequently in

sandstone Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks. Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates ...

heath A heath () is a shrubland habitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great Britain—a cooler a ...

habitats as it does in

wallum Wallum, or wallum country, is an Australian ecosystem of coastal south-east Queensland, extending into north-eastern New South Wales. It is characterised by flora-rich shrubland and heathland on deep, nutrient-poor, acidic, sandy soils, and re ...

swamps. The call of the male is a duck-like "wak", similar to that of '' Litoria latopalmata'', although slower. Males will call on warm nights, in spring and summer, often after rain. Breeding takes place in any and all bodies of water the frogs can find, from large swamps, to creeks (stream-side pools are normally used), to temporary puddles (which may depend on follow-up rainfall to see the tadpoles reach metamorphosis).

References

* Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is vulnerable *Anstis, M. 2002. Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia. Reed New Holland: Sydney. *Robinson, M. 2002. A Field Guide to Frogs of Australia. Australian Museum/Reed New Holland: Sydney.
Frogs Australia Network
– frog call sound clip available here. {{Taxonbar, from=Q2277158 Litoria Amphibians of Queensland Amphibians of New South Wales Vulnerable fauna of Australia Amphibians described in 1838 Frogs of Australia