Uperoleia littlejohni

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

A small species of frog reaching up to 3 cm in body length. It has a light brown, grey-brown or dark brown back, with pale brown or dark brown patches. There is an indistinct, pale brown longitudinal stripe along the middle of the head. The belly is clear grey in the middle and pale pink near the under-surface of the arms and legs, covered with tiny white specks. The male has a dark grey, nearly black, throat. The pupil is horizontal, and the iris the gold. The groin and the backs of the thighs are red. Fingers are unwebbed and toes are slightly webbed, both without discs. The large parotoid glands on the shoulders look like two sand-coloured patches.

Breeding Biology

Eggs have not been described, but are likely to be similar to other Uperoleia species and laid in temporary ponds, drainage lines, and small creek pools. Tadpoles can reach a total length of up to 3.5 cm, and are sand-gold in colour with blacks specks. They remain hidden at the shallow edges of water bodies. It is unknown how long they take to develop into frogs. Breeds during summer after heavy rain.

Similar Species

Looks very similar to Uperoleia altissima, Uperoleia lithomoda, and Uperoleia mimula in its distribution, but has a different call. The best way to differentiate it from Uperoleia altissima is by DNA testing.