Tag: backyard

Meet Fred the Frog. He is a Green Tree Frog.

Fred and a few of his friends and family have been renting out space in our backyard.

They are very welcome although the dogs are not happy they are our tenants at the Home by the Sea.

The frogs try to get the favourite spot on the edge of the potplant as this helps them catch the moths that frequent our lawn at night, as modelled here by Esmeralda.

Australian Green Tree Frogs

These frogs have an ability to change the colour of their skin according to the surface they are sitting on. Sometimes bright green, othertimes brown.

Their skin also emits secretions should they be eaten by a predator. The secretions in the skin taste awful and make a predator, such as a dog vomit, and suffer depression for up to 60 minutes.

Of course, the dogs had to test the theory. The new puppy couldn’t resist picking the frog up in its mouth. As well as the protective secretions, frogs have another defence. They scream, they wail. It is a sound that brings us running to rescue them. But we don’t touch them!

Safety with Frogs

Human TOUCH can burn a frog’s skin if we pick it up with dry hands.

WET YOUR HANDS WHEN HANDLING A FROG.

[And do not touch toads without gloves. They are toxic!]

The vomit has been cleaned up and the depression lasted for a hour. A textbook example of the frog’s skin secretions at work, protecting it from being eaten by predators.

Here is a list of the frogs found in our area. At present we have around 8 -10 in our yard. The recent rains have delighted them.

1.	Limnodynastes peronii : Brown-striped Frog	6
2.	Limnodynastes terraereginae : Northern Banjo Frog	1
3.	Litoria caerulea : Green Tree Frog	4
4.	Litoria fallax : Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog	3
5.	Litoria gracilenta : Dainty Green Tree Frog	4
6.	Platyplectrum ornatum : Ornate Burrowing Frog	2
7.	Pseudophryne major : Large Toadlet	4
8.	Rhinella marina : Cane Toad	5