Kingdom Animalia Order Anura Genus Litoria Higher classification Australasian treefrogs | Phylum Chordata Family Hylidae Scientific name Litoria castanea Rank Species | |
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Similar Frog, Australasian treefrogs, Amphibians, Peppered tree frog, Booroolong frog | ||
Litoria castanea, known as the yellow-spotted tree frog, New England swamp frog, tablelands bell frog or yellow-spotted bell frog. It is a critically endangered species of frog that is endemic to southeastern Australia. Its natural habitats are temperate grassland, rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, and ponds.
Ecology
Litoria moorei is a member of the Litoria aurea complex, being distinguished by cream markings on its thighs. The overall colour is pale green and the dark to black spots are highlighted by the bronze patches. The toes are entirely webbed, the species favouring permanent water bodies. The reason behind its drastic decline are unclear, but the disease chytridiomycosis is suspected to have played a major role. No recorded sighting had been made since 1980, and the species was believed to be extinct. However, in late 2009 New South Wales Fisheries field scientist Luke Pearce located a surviving population of the frogs.