Southern leaf green tree frog facts for kids
The southern leaf green tree frog (Ranoidea nudidigitus) is a type of tree frog that lives in the coastal areas and mountains of south-eastern Australia. You can find it from just south of Sydney all the way to eastern Victoria.
Quick facts for kids Southern leaf green tree frog |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ranoidea (genus)
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| Species: |
nudidigitus
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| Where the southern leaf green tree frog lives | |
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What Does It Look Like?
This frog is quite small, growing up to about 40 mm (1.6 in) long. Adult frogs are usually green on their backs, but sometimes they can be brown. Young frogs that have just changed from tadpoles (called metamorph frogs) are always a dull brown.
This frog looks very similar to the leaf green tree frog (Litoria phyllochroa). To tell them apart, scientists look at where they live and listen to their calls. The southern leaf green tree frog has an eardrum (called a tympanum) that is hard to see, while the leaf green tree frog's eardrum is easy to spot.
A black stripe runs along the side of the southern leaf green tree frog's head, starting at its nostril and going all the way down its body. This stripe often gets wider as it goes further back. Above the black stripe, there's a gold stripe that follows the same path.
Where Does It Live and What Does It Do?
The southern leaf green tree frog was only recently identified as a separate species from the leaf green tree frog. Sydney is usually seen as the dividing line between the two. The southern leaf green tree frog lives to the south of Sydney, and the leaf green tree frog lives to the north. However, sometimes these two species can breed together in an area around southern Sydney, from the Royal National Park to about Wollongong. This area is known as a "hybrid zone" because both types of frogs can be found there.
These frogs like to live near streams and creeks in rainforests and in forests with tough, leathery-leaved trees (called sclerophyll forests). You will rarely find them far away from flowing water.
Male southern leaf green tree frogs make a call that sounds similar to the leaf green tree frog. Their call starts with one long note, followed by a series of shorter notes. Males usually call during spring and summer from plants and trees near a stream.
See also
In Spanish: Litoria nudidigitus para niños
