Stoney Creek Frog

Physical Description

The Stoney Creek Frog reaches a size of 7 centimeters, and has reduced toe pads. Like most frogs, the colour of the Stoney Creek Frog is variable. The dorsal and ventral surfaces range from grey to brown. A thin, black line runs from the snout to the eye, widens after the eye, and continues uninterrupted until the base of the arm.

During the mating season, the males will develop a brilliant lemon-yellow pigment on their skin, which can range from completely covering the body, to just covering the dorsal surface.

Ecology and behaviour

This species is found in woodland, rainforest and sclerophyll forest. It is normally associated with rocky flowing streams, however it will also inhabit dams in suitable forest.

The Stoney Creek Frog is unusual in relation to most of the Litoria genus because it lacks a vocal sack. The call is a series of soft trills, which can only be heard within a few metres of the frog. The frog will call near both moving and still water sources.

Taxonomy

This species is almost identical physiologically to Lesueur's Frog (Litoria lesueuri) and is identical physiologically to Litoria jungguy. It can be distinguished from Lesueur's Frog by the presence of blue spots on the thigh, which are missing in the Stoney Creek Frog. Geographical distribution and genetic testing are the only methods of differentiating the Stoney Creek Frog and Litoria jungguy.