Litoria fallax (HYLIDAE) Eastern Sedgefrog

The most common treefrog in Greater Brisbane. It can be green, pale brown or green-sided brown. Also known as Green Reedfrog, Eastern Dwarf Treefrog. The Eastern Sedgefrog has a white stripe from jaw to shoulder and a dark stripe from nostril to eye. The back is sometimes plain, sometimes scattered with dark flecks. Fingers with rounded toe discs and almost no webbing, toes about three quarters webbed. Usually found in vegetation bordering swamps, streams, ponds and farm dams. Only frog to be found in many suburban gardens. Often responds to plant watering by giving short calls. Eggs laid singly or in small mats floating on surface of still water in summer months. Dark tailed-tadpoles, reaching 55 mm, with pale or highly patterned bodies and high tail fins. Approximate tadpole life is 90 days.

The Eastern Sedgefrog has a call that attracts attention, and a throat that does likewise. Using its bright orange vocal sac, the frog produces a two-part call a long wreeeek followed by a sharp kik kik, kik kik. One of the smallest green tree frogs, at just 35 mm, its back is green to fawn, sometimes scattered with dark spots. A dark bronze line runs from the nostril to eye. The groin and hidden part of the thigh are bright orange. Eastern sedgefrogs are common visitors to suburban gardens, sheltering in shrubs, fern fronds, bromeliads including pineapple plants, passionfruit and other vines, banana and pawpaw trees. They are found from the Daintree River in north Queensland to southern New South Wales.

The Eastern Sedgefrog shelters in plants that collect water, such as bromeliads and banana trees. It can be encouraged to take up residence in small raised ponds with water plants and Pacific Blue Eyes (native fish which will eat mosquito larvae but not tadpoles).

How many pictures can you have of this beautiful little frog before it’s too many? They pose very nicely for the camera and often show off different parts of their anatomy, in this case an interesting gold sheen to the feet.

Sometimes like this one the green is darker (emerald) and the fawn or brown also darker. Note the brilliant green colour around the eye.