Australian Green Tree Frog

Australian Green Tree Frogs can be found throughout Australia and New Guinea, can grow to about 4.5 inches in length, and generally weigh up to 3.2 oz. Australian Green Tree Frogs are also known as White’s Tree Frogs and Dumpy Tree Frogs.

Australian Green Tree Frogs have this name because they originate from Australia. They were introduced to Florida and New Zealand, possibly due to the pet trade.

Australian Green Tree Frogs are also known as White’s Tree Frog because of the famous botanical collector Sir John White who described them in one of his works.  Australian Green Tree Frogs can become obese when kept in captivity and are generally called “Dumpy Tree Frogs” if they are overweight.

Australian Green Tree Frogs share many similar characteristics to other tree frogs like American Green Tree Frogs. Their skin is typically green, yet some can be brown. These frogs have relatively large bodies and short limbs that slow down their movement.

How to Spot Australian Green Tree Frogs

Australian Green Tree Frogs generally spend the daytime remaining inconspicuous on large green leaves or under rocks or hollows in trees. Meanwhile, as night approaches, become active and hunt for food. 

You won’t find Australian Green Tree Frogs in the wild unless you are located in Australia and parts of New Zealand or Florida. So if you happen to be in any of these places and would like to find one of these frogs, here are some tips that will be of help to you:

• Australian Green Tree Frogs like to stay on large leaves and in the hollows of trees and dead logs.
• They spend their days moving very slowly to avoid being spotted by predators and eating any prey that comes too close to them.
• They are more active at night when they look for food. Go out at night with a flashlight to spot them more easily.
• Male Australian Green Tree Frogs like to make their mating calls from the hollows of trees or pipes because it amplifies their voices. Follow these sounds to locate them during mating season.

These species of tree frogs are particularly fond of old eucalyptus trees because of the hollows they have that contain water. They also stay on trees with good canopies. Furthermore, they will approach houses near the forests and stay on windowsills, outdoor pipes, and other places where there are bugs attracted to lights.

Interesting Facts About Australian Green Tree Frogs

• Australian Green Tree Frogs have partially webbed feet with toes that look like suction pads that help them stick to trees.
• Female Australian Green Tree Frogs are usually bigger than the males in the species.
• Australian Green Tree Frogs make a sound resembling a scream when they are touched or feel threatened.
• Female Australian Green Tree Frogs can lay up to 2,000 eggs at once during the mating season.
• Australian Green Tree Frogs usually hide in burrows or a “cocoon” made of shed skin and mucus during Winter or the Dry season.
• Unlike most frogs, Australian Green Tree Frogs are unperturbed by the presence of humans.
• Some Australian Green Tree Frogs in captivity live up to 20 years.
• Australian Green Tree Frogs can live fairly long in the wild because of the antiviral and antibacterial substances on their skin.
• Australian Green Tree Frogs secrete antiviral and antibacterial substances that are of pharmaceutical value.

More About Green Tree Frogs

Australian Green Tree Frogs are a magnificent species of tree frogs. Their docile nature and adorable screams have won the hearts of many naturalists, including the infamous John White, whom they are named after.

Learn more about Australian Green Tree Frogs in these guides on our blog:

• 15 Types of Tree Frogs
• Are Cane Toads Still a Problem in Australia?

Common Questions About Related to Australian Green Tree Frogs

Can you keep Australian Green Tree Frogs as pets? Australian Green Tree Frogs are popular as exotic pets yet keeping frogs as pets is not for everyone. If you do wish to keep one as a pet, purchase it from a reputable pet store and make sure it has an environment where it can be happy and safe.

What do Australian Green Tree Frogs eat? Australian Green Tree Frogs have a diverse diet ranging from small insects including earthworms, caterpillars, butterflies, snails, slugs, cockroaches, moths, small spiders, tiny mice, and even smaller frogs.

What are Australian Green Tree Frogs’ predators? Australian Green Tree Frogs have many predators including snakes, birds of prey like eagles, falcons, crows, and owls. Also, bushpigs, large rodents, and tarantulas find Australian Green Tree Frogs to be a delicacy.

 What do Australian Green Tree Frogs sound like? There are two main sounds Australian Green Tree Frogs make: their mating call and their distress call. Their distress call sounds like a scream and their mating call sounds like a hoarse croak. How many babies do Australian Green Tree Frogs have? Australian Green Tree Frogs can lay between 1,000 to 2,000 eggs in clusters on still water. The eggs usually float for only a day, after which they sink. Fish and birds prey on the eggs.

Are Australian Green Tree Frogs endangered? Australian Green Tree Frogs are not an endangered species. They are listed as the least concern in the IUCN list of endangered animals. However, due to deforestation, their population is declining and could lead to a drastic reduction in their numbers in the future.

Sources

Bartlett RD, Bartlett PB, Griswold B. Reptiles, Amphibians, and Invertebrates:  An Identification and Care Guide, 2nd ed. Hauppage, NY: Barron’s Educational Series; 2010.

Litoria caerulea (White, 1790). Nonindigenous Aquatic Species. U.S. Geological Survey. 2002.

Mylniczenko N. Amphibians. In: Mitchell MA, Tully TA (et al). Manual of Exotic Pet Practice. St. Louis, Saunders Elsevier; 2009. Pp. 73-111.

Wright KM, Whitaker BR. Amphibian Medicine and Captive Husbandry. Malabar (Kerala): Krieger; 2001