''Ranoidea chloris'', commonly known as the red-eyed tree frog or orange-eyed tree frog, is a species of tree frog native to eastern Australia; ranging from south of

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

(Nowra area) to Proserpine in mid-northern

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 , established_ ...

Description

The red-eyed tree frog is a uniform bright green above, occasionally with yellow spots, and bright yellow on the underside. The front sides of the arms and legs are green, while the underside is yellow or white. The thighs may be blue/purple to blue/black in colour in adults. It has golden eyes at the centre, which change to red towards the edge of the eye. The intensity of the eye colour is variable between frogs. The tympanum is visible, and a mature frog reaches a size of 65 mm. The

tadpole A tadpole is the larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial. Tadpoles have some fish-like features that may not be found i ...

s are generally grey or brown, and can have gold

pigment A pigment is a colored material that is completely or nearly insoluble in water. In contrast, dyes are typically soluble, at least at some stage in their use. Generally dyes are often organic compounds whereas pigments are often inorganic compo ...

along the side. A similar species, the

orange-thighed frog The orange-thighed frog (''Ranoidea xanthomera'') is a species of tree frog native to a small area of tropical northern Queensland, Australia. It is a green frog with distinctly orange eyes, and is very similar in appearance to the red-eyed tre ...

(''Litoria xantheroma'') is found north of Proserpine and has orange on the back of the thighs.

Ecology and behaviour

This species of frog is associated with

rainforest Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...

s, wet

sclerophyll Sclerophyll is a type of vegetation that is adapted to long periods of dryness and heat. The plants feature hard leaf, leaves, short Internode (botany), internodes (the distance between leaves along the stem) and leaf orientation which is paral ...

forests, and woodlands. The call is several long, moaning "aaa-rk" sounds, followed by soft trills. Males call and breeding takes place mostly after rain in temporary ponds, roadside ditches, dams, ponds, and creek offshoots where the water is not flowing.

As a pet

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

References

* Database entry includes a range map and a brief justification of why this species is of least concern *Cogger, H.G. 1979. ''Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia''. A. H. & A. W. REED PTY LTD. *MacMillan, L. 2005
Frog secretions block HIV infections
Exploration, Vanderbilt University
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, New South Wales: Amphibian Keeper's Licence: Species Lists

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q940823 Ranoidea (genus) Frogs of Australia Amphibians of Queensland Amphibians of New South Wales Amphibians described in 1892 Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger