Colleeneremia quiritatus

A medium-sized species of frog reaching up to 4.6 cm in body length. It has a light brown or cream-coloured back, with a wide, brown longitudinal stripe along the middle. The belly is cream-coloured, and the male has a bright yellow vocal sac. Males turn a lemon yellow colour in the breeding season.

The pupil is horizontal, and the iris is red in the top half and brown in the lower half. Fingers are one-third webbed and toes are three-quarters webbed, both with large, sometimes yellow discs.

This species was named as new to science in 2021 by a team of researchers including from the Australian Museum. The species was previously being confused with Colleeneremia dentata. Recordings submitted to FrogID were analysed as part of the scientific paper formally describing and scientifically naming the species. Your recordings really do contribute to better understanding and conserving our frogs!

This species was previously known as Litoria quiritatus.

Breeds from permanent or ephemeral water courses and ponds in both natural and disturbed habitats.

Breeds during spring to summer after heavy rain. Eggs are laid in still water and hatch 3-4 days later. Tadpoles grow to approximately 5 cm and metamorphose after about 50-55 days, usually between December and February.

Most similar to Colleeneremia dentata and Colleeneremia balatus. It does not overlap in range with Colleeneremia balatus but abuts the distribution of Colleeneremia dentata in northern NSW. It can be distinguished from Colleeneremia dentata by having males with a bright yellow vocal sac, versus blackish yellow when deflated and dirty yellow or brown when inflated.

Looks somewhat similar to Rawlinsonia jervisiensis, Colleeneremia rubella, and Rawlinsonia verreauxii in its distribution. It can be distinguished from all of these species except Colleeneremia rubella by a lack of bright colours in the armpits or back of the thighs, while Colleeneremia rubella lacks the wide, brown stripe along the middle of its back and has a more robust body.