Meet the Rose Bay Community Garden night-shift…
The Peron’s tree frog, also known as the emerald-spotted tree frog, laughing tree frog or the ‘maniacal cackle frog’!
Named after a well known early French naturalist and zoologist François Péron. Peron’s tree frog (Litoria peronii or Pengilleyia peronii). Péron was one of the key zoologists on the Nicolas Baudin expedition to Australian waters between 1801 and 1803. During this highly successful and extensive voyage, he helped gather nearly 100,000 zoological specimens, creating one of the most comprehensive Australian natural history collections of its time.
Photos by Marika Nabung
These frogs have silver eyes, with cross-shaped pupils and bright yellow-and-black markings.
When the frog is sitting still, the yellow spots are hidden, but if a predator startles it, the frog exposes a sudden flash of bright yellow. This burst of colour can momentarily confuse predators such as birds and snakes, giving the frog a split second to escape.
They can also change their skin colour from pale green-grey to a rich red-brown in minutes.
The males make a loud, drill-like sound that sounds like a laugh or a maniacal cackle. Listen here
At night, they climb trees and walls, often waiting near outdoor lights to catch insects.
They breed in spring and summer, laying eggs in slow-moving water, dams or garden ponds. Adults grow between 4.5 and 7.5 centimetres long.
Australia’s frogs need your help
Our frogs are under threat from habitat loss, disease, and climate change. Record frog calls with the free FrogID app and help gather essential information to better understand and conserve Australia’s frogs.
