Litoria castanea
Yellow-spotted Bell Frog
Distribution
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Conservation Status
What does it mean?
Federal Conservation Status (EPBC Act)
IUCN Red List
Critically Endangered
Calling Period
- Jan
- yes
- Feb
- yes
- Mar
- possible
- Apr
- No calling
- May
- No calling
- Jun
- No calling
- Jul
- No calling
- Aug
- possible
- Sep
- possible
- Oct
- yes
- Nov
- yes
- Dec
- yes
Species Information
Description
A large species of frog reaching up to 9 cm in body length. It has a bright green back with gold patches and a green longitudinal stripe along the middle. There is a cream-coloured stripe from the tip of the snout to halfway along the side. The belly is white. The pupil is horizontal and the iris is gold. The groin and backs of the thighs are bright blue with small bright yellow patches. Fingers are unwebbed and toes are fully webbed, both with small discs. A taxonomic revision of the Australian treefrogs published in June 2025 has suggested that this species be placed in the genus Ranoidea, resulting in the proposed species name of Ranoidea castanea.
Habitats
Occurs in farmland in large permanent ponds that have emergent reeds and other vegetation.
Breeding Biology
Eggs are laid as small clusters in water, sometimes sinking and attaching to vegetation at the shallow edges of permanent lagoons and ponds. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to 8 cm, and are likely to be similar to those of Litoria aurea and Litoria raniformis in colour, habit and development time; only preserved Litoria castanea tadpoles have been examined. Breeds during spring and summer.
Similar Species
Looks very similar to Litoria aurea and Litoria raniformis in its distribution, but has more bright yellow patches on the backs of the thighs.