Motorbike frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Motorbike frog |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Litoria
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| Species: |
moorei
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| Distribution of Litoria moorei | |
| Synonyms | |
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The motorbike frog is a special type of frog that lives in southwestern Australia. People also call it Moore's frog, the western green and golden bell frog, or the bull frog. Its scientific name is Litoria moorei.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
Motorbike frogs can grow to be about 7.8 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. They come in different colors, from brown to green. Sometimes, parts of their skin can turn yellow when they sit in the sun. Their bellies are usually light green or light brown. They have a special stripe that goes over each eye, past their ear, and down to the top of their front leg.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Motorbike frogs lay their eggs in bunches. They stick these egg bunches to plants that are underwater.
Their tadpoles are dark brown and can grow up to 8 centimeters long. Most tadpoles turn into frogs in March and April, which is late summer in Australia. But some tadpoles are a bit different! They can stay tadpoles for much longer, up to 14 months. These "super" tadpoles can even grow to be 14 centimeters long before they finally change into frogs.
What Do They Eat?
Young motorbike frog tadpoles mostly eat algae, which are tiny plant-like organisms found in water. Adult motorbike frogs have a different diet. They like to eat arthropods, which include insects like beetles and crickets. Sometimes, adult frogs might even eat smaller, younger motorbike frogs.
Where Do They Live?
Even though this frog can climb trees, it usually spends most of its time on the ground. Because of this, not all scientists agree that it should be called a "tree frog". They prefer to stay close to water sources like ponds and swamps.
Images for kids
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Juvenile motorbike frog
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A motorbike frog calling in Swanbourne, Western Australia
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Three-week-old motorbike frog tadpoles in a backyard pond
See also
In Spanish: Ranoidea moorei para niños
