Litoria spaldingi
Spalding's Rocket Frog
Distribution
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Conservation Status
What does it mean?
Federal Conservation Status (EPBC Act)
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
Frog Calls
Call recorded by Dane Trembath
Calling Period
- Jan
- yes
- Feb
- yes
- Mar
- yes
- Apr
- possible
- May
- possible
- Jun
- possible
- Jul
- possible
- Aug
- possible
- Sep
- possible
- Oct
- yes
- Nov
- peak
- Dec
- peak
Species Information
Description
A large species of frog reaching up to 7 cm in body length. It has a brown, reddish-brown or dark grey back, sometimes with darker mottling. There is a dark brown stripe from the tip of the snout to the side. The belly is white and the male has a white or yellow throat, with brown flecks. The pupil is horizontal, and the iris is gold and brown in the upper half, with gold closest to the pupil, and dark brown in the lower half. Fingers are unwebbed and toes are fully webbed, both with small discs. Breeding males have yellow sides. A taxonomic revision of the Australian treefrogs published in June 2025 has suggested that this species remain in the genus Litoria, retaining its species name of Litoria spaldingi.
Habitats
Occurs near rocky gorges.
Breeding Biology
Eggs are laid as clusters that float on the surface of rock pools, flooded ditches, and floodplain swamps. Tadpoles can reach a total length of nearly 5.5 cm and are dark grey or gold-brown in colour. They often remain at the bottom of water bodies, and take around one and a half months to develop into frogs. Breeds during spring to summer in the wet season.
Similar Species
Most similar in appearance to Litoria watjulumensis, for which it was only recently split, but these two species do not overlap in distribution. Looks most similar to Litoria pallida, Litoria personata and Litoria tornieri in its distribution, but these species have a shorter stripe from the tip of the snout to the side, and Litoria personata is generally smaller. Also looks similar to Litoria nasuta, but lacks distinct brown longitudinal stripes near the middle of the back.