Blue-thighed Bell Frog
Litoria raniformis
Distribution,
Climate & Habitat: an inhabitant of wet woodlands, grasslands, and
vegetation at the edge of ponds and lakes in southeastern Australia and Tasmania.
Quite aquatic, being found close to permanent deep water
Size: females
can reach 7 centimetres from snout to vent; males are smaller
Diet: mainly insects, but known to prey on snails, tadpoles, small lizards and other frogs
Appearance: the back is a mixture of leaf-green and golden patterning, with an indistinct white stripe running down either side, below which is an area of rather granular skin; this facilitates water uptake (frogs absorb water through their skin rather than drink it) when dehydrated. Uniformly pale below. Toepads small, as this is primarily a ground-dwelling species (unlike most treefrogs, which tend to live in trees and shrubs).
Habits: active during daytime. Males produce a growling call to attract females during the breeding season, hence its Australian name of 'Growling Grass frog'. Although ground-dwelling, this species will climb trees and shrubs. Has been observed catching prey (tadpoles) underwater. The eggs are deposited amongst water plants and are pigmented (to protect the developing tadpoles from the damaging rays of the sun); at first they float at the surface, but later sink