White’s Tree Frog
(Litoria caerulea)
 

Range: Australia, New Zealand(Rare) and introduced populations can be found in new Guinea and in Florida.

Habitat: Trees, tree canopies

Diet: Insects such as crickets and moths as well as spiders and Earthworms. Large, captive White’s treefrogs will eat pinky mice (pinky mice are high in fat and should be fed to White’s treefrogs sparingly.)
Identification: Large-eyed, pale green, portly frogs with white bellies.

Notes: White’s treefrogs were first described by John White, an English surgeon. When he brought home preserved specimens of the frogs the preservatives altered the frogs pigment by removing the yellow, causing the frog to be first named “The Blue Frog”. This is why its species name is caerula (blue). Cooler temperatures tend to darken the frog. This animal is also alternatively known as the Dumpy treefrog (or sometimes the green treefrog though in North America this title normally pertains to Hyla cineria.) They are also called Dumpy Treefrogs because of their rather portly appearance. White’s tree frogs are renowned for their incredible tameness and can live past fifteen years of age in captivity. In their native Australia White’s treefrogs can be found around houses and patios, preying upon bugs that gather around the house’s lights. Being treefrogs, White’s treefrogs, like many other treefrog species, are able to cling to sheer, vertical surfaces because of a sticky, mucus- like material that forms on their toepads. They are very arboreal. The frogs will often sit with their legs tucked under their body. Some speculate that this is because it makes them look less like a tasty frog to predators. It has also been shown that this position reduces the surface area of the frog exposed to the air and therefore helps to reduce water loss. Its skin possesses qualities that open possibilities for medical uses in the future. White’s treefrogs, like all amphibians, need their skin to be wet in order to exchange oxygen.

At The Children’s Museum: The Children’s Museum has a White’s Treefrog. Roaring Brook Nature Center also has a White’s treefrog in their auditorium.