The green tree frog has proven to be one of the most popular amongst people that keep frogs as pets. It is relatively docile, has a long life expectancy and its somewhat amusing features make it a favourite with kids. It is also known as the dumpy tree frog because of the layers of fat found around its head – some have called it the obese pet frog.
Be careful not to confuse the green tree frog with the giant tree frog. The giant tree frog has a white stripe at the edge of its lower jaw, something the green tree frog doesn’t. The green tree frog skin colour varies from a darkish olive to light green. It can change its colour from one extreme to the other in the space of an hour. An adult green tree frog can be up to 100 mm in length.
Native to New Guinea and Australia but later introduced to New Zealand and the USA, the green tree frog is found in many parts of the country. As their name infers, the green tree frog spends a substantial amount of its time on trees. That said, the vast majority are found in the country’s eastern and northern regions. You will also see green tree frogs in swampy areas or in the rich tropical grasslands.
The frogs will collect around water drains and any other place close to a water body. They shy off from confrontation with humans but are attracted to light which explains why they are found near human settlements. Since the frogs prefer wet and warm climate, they find it difficult to survive or thrive in the cold winters of southern Victoria.
The green tree frog is not only a great pet to have but it has also significantly contributed to the pharmaceutical industry. The green tree frog produces a discharge that has medicinal value for mankind. The secretion has antiviral and antibacterial elements that can be used to cure or manage a number of human illnesses. This however does not warrant harming the frogs as the secretions can be extracted without necessarily endangering the life of the green tree frog.
But the increase in cat and dog numbers at the peak of immigration in past years has seen the frogs become prey for these domesticated animals. The tree frog also has to contend with its natural predators such as lizards, large birds and snakes.
This coupled by the rise in the prevalence of deadly frog diseases such as chytridiomycosis has caused concern on the green tree frog’s numbers in Australia. Fortunately, due to their relatively long life expectancy when compared to other frog species, it would require a long sustained onslaught from such disease for it to have a substantial effect on the green tree frog’s population in Australia.
Back to the Australian animals overview
References:
http://www.frogsAustralia.net.au/frogs/display.cfm?frog_id=137
http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/view.php?did=25128&tid=3
