frogs – A Home by the Sea

Frogs and Reptile Biodiversity in My Local Area

March 7, 2021 Forestwood

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.

Schnauzer Dogs sitting at door — Credit: Facebook

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

building

Last Photo

February 29, 2020February 29, 2020 Forestwood

Bushboy is a fellow Aussie blogger whose photo enthusiasm extends to wanting to see other blogger’s final photos on their phone, for the month of February.

Alright, Brian. I’ll play along.

Meet Billie, our resident frog. Usually green, but brown tonight, only green around the gills, so to speak.

Just so you know he is a green frog, here he is with his green suit on.

Last Photo for February 2020

animals, building

A Natural Visitor

December 15, 2019December 15, 2019 Forestwood

There is a new visitor to the Little Home by the Sea. And his name is Billy!

We have decided. And he can’t disagree too vocally.

This little green tree frog has made our yard his home and is eating the annoying moths that we seem to have in our patio area. (Not the MOTH, of course).

Frogs are indicative of the health of the environment, so I feel this is a good indicator for our new estate, where wildlife would be greatly disturbed by the earthworks.

This is a good sign for our nearby wildlife corridor.

Did you know that you should always have wet hands if you try to touch or pick up a frog?