Litoria quiritatus

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

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 only just named as new to science by a team of researchers including from the Australian Museum. The species was previously being confused with Litoria 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!

Breeding Biology

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.

Similar Species

Most similar to Litoria dentata and Litoria balatus. It does not overlap in range with Litoria balatus but abuts the distribution of Litoria dentata in northern NSW. It can be distinguished from Litoria 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 Litoria jervisiensis, Litoria rubella, and Litoria verreauxii in its distribution. It can be distinguished from all of these species except Litoria rubella by a lack of bright colours in the armpits or back of the thighs, while Litoria rubella lacks the wide, brown stripe along the middle of its back and has a more robust body.