The Robust Bleating Tree Frog, known to many east coast residents as a frog with an extremely loud and piercing call, has now been discovered to have two new and also very loud amphibian friends.
The Robust Bleating Tree Frog (Litoria dentata) is now joined by newly discovered relatives the Slender Bleating Tree Frog (Litoria balatus) and the Screaming Tree Frog (Litoria quiritatus).
Scientists from the University of Newcastle, Australian Museum, South Australian Museum, and Queensland National Parks and Wildlife made the discovery, which was published in Zootaxa.
The frogs were scientifically described and identified with the help of citizen scientists and their recordings through the Australian Museum’s FrogID app. Many calls were submitted via the app, which helped the scientists differentiate between the various calls.
Australian Museum herpetologist Dr Jodi Rowley said their examinations revealed the calls differed slightly in their length, pitch and how rapid-fire they were.
“The Slender Bleating Tree Frog has the shortest, most rapid-fire and highest pitched calls,” Dr Rowley said.
“The research and help from our citizen scientists highlights the valuable contribution that everyone can make to better understand and conserve our frogs.”
University of Newcastle’s School of Environmental and Life Sciences Professor Michael Mahony said the three closely related species were relatively common and widespread.
“They are all at least somewhat tolerant of modified environments, being recorded as part of the FrogID project relatively often in backyards and paddocks, as well as more natural habitats,” Professor Mahony said.
The Slender Bleating Tree Frog is present in Queensland while the Screaming Tree Frog occurs from Taree in NSW to just over the border in Victoria
The Slender Bleating Tree Frog is slender in appearance, and has a white line extending down its side, and males have a distinctly black vocal sac.
The Screaming Tree Frog isn’t nearly as slender, doesn’t have the white line extending down its side, and males have a bright yellow vocal sac. In the breeding season, the entire body of males of the Screaming Tree Frog also tend to turn a lemon yellow.
The Robust Bleating Tree Frog is most similar in appearance to the Screaming Tree Frog, but males have a brownish vocal sac that turns a dull yellow or yellowish brown when fully inflated.
South Australian Museum Professor Steven Donnellan said the genetic work of the frogs was the first clue that there were actually three species.
“Although similar in appearance, and in their piercing calls, the frogs are genetically very different. I’m still amazed that it’s taken us so long to discover that the loudest frog in Australia is not one but three species,” Professor Donnellan said.
“How many more undescribed species in the ‘quiet achiever’ category are awaiting their scientific debut?”
Information source: Media release, University of Newcastle