Frogs > Peron’s Tree Frog NSW | QLD

Author: Katrina.

Peron’s Tree Frog (Litoria peroni) is also known as the Emerald-spotted Tree Frog, Emerald-speckled Tree Frog, Laughing Tree Frog or the Maniacal Cackle Frog (Victoria) due to its distinctive call, the adult frog frequent wet and dry forest, woodlands, shrublands and open areas. They are known to travel long distances from and to water where they spawn during the breeding seasons. They spawn in swamps, dams, streamside ponds and lagoons.

They are a common Australian tree frog of the family Pelodryadidae.

Peron’s Tree Frog (Litoria peroni), Willowglen near Goulburn, NSW, Australia © Katrina Leel

Distinguishing characteristic
The tadpoles are pale golden-yellow to iridescent green. Adults have a bright yellow or orange with marbled dark brown to black mottling on armpits, groin, and backs of thighs. Colour varies according to environmental conditions, sometimes varying in the same individual and has the ability to change colour.

By day the Peron’s Tree Frog is usually a pale grey-green colour that can changes to reddish brown with emerald green flecks at night. You can sometimes see the emerald green flecks (sometimes indistinct) during the day, scattered on the back.

They have a cross-shaped pupil and a silver iris. The fingers are half webbed, toes are fully webbed.

Distribution
New South Wales, southern Queensland and northern Victoria.

Call
Male frogs call from near water with a call that is very long and drawn out, slowly pulsed and increasing in loudness – ‘cra-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ahhk’.

You can hear the frog for yourself (mp3):

Peron’s Tree Frog (Litoria peroni), Willowglen near Goulburn, NSW, Australia © Katrina Leel

Photos © Katrina Leel


  • Scientific Classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Amphibia
  • Order: Anura
  • Family: Pelodryadidae
  • Genus: Litoria
  • Species: Litoria peronii

Peron’s Tree FrogPeron’s Tree Frog QLD

FrogsAustralian Green Tree Frog (Ranoidea caerulea) Centralian Tree Frog (Ranoidea gilleni) Desert Tree Frog (Litoria rubella) Desert Trilling Frog Great Barred Frog (Mixophyes fasciolatus) Main’s Frog Long-footed Frog (Cyclorana longipes) Motorbike Frog (Ranoidea moorei) Peron’s Tree Frog Spencer’s Burrowing Frog