Tyler's Australian Treefrog

Fascinating facts about the Tyler's Australian Treefrog

• Spanning from south-eastern Queensland down to the southern coast of New South Wales, this arboreal frog lives exclusively along the coast, never venturing inland.
• Females grow up to about 50 mm long, making them noticeably larger than the males of the same species.
• Its toe pads are bigger than the actual toes and fingers, giving it a grip strong enough to cling to branches in the forest canopy.
• During the spring and summer rains, males perch in vegetation around ponds and call with a short, laughing sound that lacks the downward dip found in its close cousin’s call.

At a glance

About the Tyler's Australian Treefrog

Tyler's Australian treefrog, Pengilleyia tyleri, is a striking arboreal amphibian that clings to the coastal forests of southeastern Queensland down to the southern coast of New South Wales. Its dorsal coat ranges from muted grey-brown to warm fawn, speckled with subtle green flecks, while the ventral side glows a soft whitish-yellow. Females outsize the males, reaching up to 50 mm, and the golden iris with its distinctive cross-shaped pupils gives the frog an almost regal stare. Its toe pads are oversized relative to its toes and fingers, a perfect adaptation for gripping slender branches, and the fully webbed toes contrast with the partially webbed hands. During the breeding season, males can flash a vivid yellow hue, a startling surprise that signals readiness to call from vegetation surrounding permanent dams, swamps, and ponds after rain in spring and summer. The call itself is a brief, laughing chirp, lacking the downward inflection of its close cousin, Peron's treefrog, and serves as a beacon for mates across the water's edge. This species’ life is a dance of color, sound, and stealth, perched on the edge of Australia's coastal wetlands, ever ready to leap into the next chorus of night,

More other animals to discover

Browse Feravox