Littlejohn's Tree Frog - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Litoria littlejohni

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Gazetted date: 25 Nov 2022

Profile last updated: 08 Apr 2024

Description

Littlejohn’s Tree Frog is pale brown, with dark speckles and a broad, dark band down its back. The belly is white or cream, and it has large orange patches on the groin, armpit and back of the thighs. It also has a brown bar from the tip of the snout through the nostrils to the top of the arm. This species does not have the white patch that extends from under the eye to the back of the jaw that is present on the very similar-looking Jervis Bay Tree Frog. The call is a "low reedy whistle".

Distribution

Littlejohn's Tree Frog has a distribution that includes the plateaus and eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range from Watagan State Forest (90 km north of Sydney) south to the end of the Woronora Plateau. The majority of records are from within the Sydney Basin Bioregion. Records are isolated and tend to be at high altitude.

Habitat and ecology

This species breeds in the upper reaches of permanent streams and in perched swamps.
Non-breeding habitat is heath based forests and woodlands where it shelters under leaf litter and low vegetation, and hunts for invertebrate prey either in shrubs or on the ground.
Breeding is triggered by heavy rain and can potentially occur all year, but is usually from late summer to early spring when conditions are favourable.
Males call from low vegetation close to slow flowing pools.
Eggs are laid in loose gelatinous masses attached to small submerged twigs.
Eggs and tadpoles are mostly found in still or slow flowing pools that receive extended exposure to sunlight, but will also use temporary isolated pools.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Development causing destruction of habitat through the draining of pools and degradation of waterways and waterbodies.
Destruction of habitat due to subsidence caused by longwall mining including cracked streams, draining of pools and destruction of swamps.
Loss of streamside vegetation through clearing or frequent burning.
Predation of eggs and tadpoles by introduced fish.
Infection by amphibian chytrid fungus.
Inappropriate fire regimes and intense wildfire resulting in destruction of habitat.
Recreational use causing disturbance to forest and woodland breeding and non-breeding habitat.
Poor knowledge of the current distribution and abundance of the species.
Forest disturbance associated with forestry operations.
Potential for disturbance from roadside maintenance or other activity associated with roads through habitat areas.
Climate change.
Lack of landscape connectivity leading to isolation of small populations.
Small and likely genetically isolated subpopulations due to fragmentation of habitat and the species’ short dispersal range.
Lack of knowledge on the species’ genetic diversity and taxonomy across its range.
Changes to natural water flows and water quality.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Prevent the introduction, and reduce populations of non-native fish in streams where the species occurs.
Retain riparian native vegetation.
Maintain hydrological regimes and protect water flows and water quality, particularly around the upper reaches of streams and perched swamps.
Survey the Blue Mountains and areas south of Sydney to verify current distribution.
Collect tissue samples from southern populations for genetic analyses to clarify taxonomy

Information sources

Barker J., Grigg G. and Tyler M.J. (1995) A Field Guide to Australian frogs. (Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney)
NSW Scientific Committee (2000) Littlejohn's tree frog - Vulnerable species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.
Robinson, M. (1993) A Field Guide to the Frogs of Australia. Reed Books, Sydney.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

NSW South Western Slopes	Capertee Valley	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bathurst	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Capertee Uplands	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Kanangra	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Oberon	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Burragorang	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Ettrema	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Illawarra	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Jervis	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Moss Vale	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Sydney Cataract	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wollemi	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Yengo	Known	None

Sounds

Images

Littlejohn’s Tree Frog
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