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| NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
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Common Name: Great Green Treefrog
Synonyms and Other Names: White's treefrog, dumpy treefrog, Pelodryas caerulea
Taxonomy: available through 
Identification: A large, green, arboreal hylid (treefrog) with large toepads (disks) for climbing. Dorsal color ranges from a distinct jade green, blue-green or olive, with occasional white markings or indistinct stripe on sides (Tyler et al., 1984; [Frith] and Frith, 1987; Hoser, 1989; Bartlett and Bartlett, 1999; Cogger, 2000; also illustrated in Mattison, 1987a, b; Davies and Davies, 1997; Lamar, 1997). Size is about 100-150 mm (3.9-5.9 in) (Hoser, 1989; Bartlett and Bartlett, 1999; Cogger, 2000). No other indigenous treefrog in Florida reaches such a large adult size or is jade green. Moreover, these are the only treefrogs in Florida with a distinctive, lumpy or fleshy fold behind each eye, sometimes partially covering the tympanum (eardrum) (Tyler et al., 1984; Hoser, 1989; Bartlett and Bartlett, 1999; Cogger, 2000). Call is a distinct, deep barking or nasal "wark-wark-wark" (Tyler et al., 1984; Hoser, 1989).
Size: snout-vent length of 100-150 mm
Native Range: Most of northern and eastern Australia, and southern New Guinea (Tyler
et al., 1984; [Frith] and Frith, 1987; Hoser, 1989; Tyler, 1989, 1999;
Cogger, 2000).
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Interactive maps: Continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, Caribbean
Nonindigenous Occurrences: Bartlett (1994) and Butterfield et al. (1997) list L. caerulea as established in two unspecified counties in southern Florida. Bartlett and Bartlett (1999) claim that a "few specimens" have been found in canals in Collier, Dade, and Lee counties, Florida, and have heard choruses of calling frogs in mid-May. Further information on the range of the great green treefrog in Florida probably will be provided by Meshaka et al. (2003).
At one time an established, nonindigenous population of L. caerulea existed in New Zealand (Bell, 1982; Frost, 1985; Robb, 1986; Tyler, 1999), but has not been seen since the 1950s (Hudson and Thornton, 1994).
Means of Introduction: Pet industry escapees and intentional releases (Bartlett, 1994; Bartlett and Bartlett, 1999). Great green treefrog breeding programs in Florida sometimes utilize orchid shade houses to breed frogs for the commercial pet trade (Bartlett, 1994).
Status: Butterfield et al. (1997) list L. caerulea as established in Florida. Collection of additional voucher specimens from the three counties in which these frogs have been reported should provide further details of this species range and abundance in Florida.
Impact of Introduction: Unknown. These large, insectivorous frogs may potentially compete with native frogs and can easily swallow Florida's native hylids and other small vertebrates. It is not known if their aquatic tadpoles can impact indigenous aquatic wildlife.
Remarks: In the pet trade these frogs are commonly known as White's treefrog or dumpy treefrogs (Mattison, 1987a, b; Bartlett, 1994; Davies and Davies, 1997; Wright and Whitaker, 2001). Litoria caerulea breeds in mid-May in Florida (Bartlett and Bartlett, 1999). Females can produce from a few hundred to over 1,000 floating eggs in weedy Florida canals (Bartlett and Bartlett, 1999). These highly adaptable frogs are generalists, remarkably drought tolerant, and can survive in and around a variety of human habitations ([Frith] and Frith, 1987; Hoser, 1989; Bartlett, 1994; Bartlett and Bartlett, 1999; Cogger, 2000). It is unclear if great green treefrogs in Florida represent lineages from Australia or New Guinea, but Bartlett and Bartlett (1999) speculate that only Australian L. caerulea can survive South Florida's occasional freezes. Some researchers place L. caerulea in the genus Pelodryas (Duellman, 1993; also see comment by Tyler, 1999).
References
Bartlett, R. D. 1994. Florida's alien herps. Reptile & Amphibian Magazine (27):56-73, 103-109.
Bartlett, R. D., and P. P. Bartlett. 1999. A Field Guide to Florida Reptiles and Amphibians. Gulf Publishing Company, Houston. 280 pp.
Bell, B. D. 1982. The amphibian fauna of New Zealand. Pp. 27-92. In: D. G. Newman (editor). New Zealand herpetology. New Zealand Wildlife Service Occasional Bulletin (2):1-495.
Butterfield, B. P., W. E. Meshaka, Jr., and C. Guyer. 1997. Nonindigenous amphibians and reptiles. Pp. 123-138. In: D. Simberloff, D. C. Schmitz, and T. C. Brown (editors). Strangers in Paradise. Impact and Management of Nonindigenous Species in Florida. Island Press, Washington, D. C. 467 pp.
Cogger, H. G. 2000. Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia. Sixth Edition. Ralph Curtis Publishing, Sanibel Island, Florida. 808 pp.
Davies, R., and V. Davies. 1997. The Reptile & Amphibian Problem Solver. [North American Edition.] Tetra Press, Blacksburg, Virginia. 208 pp.
Duellman, W. E. 1993. Amphibian species of the world: Additions and corrections. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Special Publication (21):1-372.
[Frith], C., and D. Frith. 1987. Australian Tropical Reptiles & Frogs. Tropical Australian Graphics, 'Prionodura' Paluma via Townsville, Queensland. 71 pp.
Frost, D. R. (editor). 1985. Amphibian Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographical Reference. Allen Press, Inc. and The Association of Systematics Collections. Lawrence, Kansas. 732 pp.
Hoser, R. T. 1989. Australian Reptiles & Frogs. Pierson & Co, Sydney. 238 pp.
Hudson, B., and T. J. Thornton. 1994. Reptiles & Amphibians in New Zealand: Handbook for Species Identification. Print Media Specialists, Auckland. 50 pp.
Lamar, W. W. 1997. The World's Most Spectacular Reptiles & Amphibians. World Publications, Tampa. 208 pp.
Mattison, C. 1987a. Frogs & Toads of the World. Facts on File, Inc, New York. 191 pp.
Mattison, C. 1987b. The Care of Reptiles and Amphibians in Captivity. Revised Edition. Blandford Press, London. 317 pp.
Meshaka, W. E., Jr., B. P. Butterfield, and J. B. Hauge. 2003 (in press). The Exotic Amphibians and Reptiles of Florida. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida.
Robb, J. 1986. New Zealand Amphibians and Reptiles in Colour. Revised [Edition]. William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland. 128 pp.
Tyler, M. J. 1989. Australian Frogs. Viking O'Neil, Penguin Books Australia Ltd, Ringwood. 220 pp.
Tyler, M. J. 1999. Distribution patterns of amphibians in the Australo-Papuan region. Pp. 541-556. In: W. E. Duellman (editor). Patterns of Distribution of Amphibians. A Global Perspective. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 633 pp.
Tyler, M. J., L. A. Smith, and R. E. Johnstone. 1984. Frogs of Western Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth. 109 pp.
Wright, K. M., and B. R. Whitaker. 2001. Amphibian Medicine and Captive Husbandry. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 499 pp.
Other Resources:
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
Amphibian and Herpetology Index
Author: Louis A. Somma
Revision Date: 6/27/2002 Citation for this information:
Louis A. Somma. 2009. Litoria caerulea. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=2276> Revision Date: 6/27/2002
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