Frog of the Month: Southern leaf green tree frog

The first frog of the month is the Southern leaf green tree frog (Litoria nudidigitus).

This small to medium-sized tree frog species is quite common along south-eastern areas of Australia, including the Illawarra. During their spring and summer breeding season, this species can be found along fast-flowing streams and creeks bordered by dense forest.

Their distinctive call involves an introductory, high-pitched “reeeek”, followed by successive lower-pitched croaks.

In the Illawarra, they are regularly found on many of our local creeks that flow down from the escarpment.

I captured this photo on a warm night along the lower section of Hargraves Creek in Stanwell Park. While there were several males calling hidden in the leaf litter, this male was perched nicely on a mossy rock while he called, making for a good photo.