Species details
Litoria rubella (Red Tree Frog, Desert Tree Frog)
Family: HYLIDAE
Size range: Males 31-35mm; females 33-37mm.
Regions: Central Districts, Mt Lofty Ranges & Adelaide Plains, Flinders Ranges, North East, North West
Description: The Red Tree Frog is a moderately-sized frog with a short head and legs. Their pupil is horizontal and their body is pale-brown, with darker brown freckles. They usually have a dark brown stripe along the side of their head and body. Their ear drums are visible and the sides of their hind legs are pale yellow. They have pads on their fingers and toes.
Habitat: The Red Tree Frog was considered widely distributed across most of northern Australia, offshore islands and Papua New Guinea but a scientific paper in 2025 split it into 3 distinct species, with Litoria rubella now being restricted to central and western Queensland, the Northern Territory, northern Western Australia, New South Wales and South Australia. They can be found in a wide range of habitats including waterholes, streams, swamps, lagoons, ditches and drains. They are also commonly found associated with human dwellings, especially outside toilets and rainwater tanks. The Red Tree Frog occurs only in the northern, arid section of the Central Districts.
Call description: A loud, high-pitched and pulsed screeching, like that of a seagull.
Breeding behaviour: Breeds following summer rains, with eggs laid in clumps on the surface of static water.
Easily confused with: In 2010 a frog from the Flinders Ranges, previously believed to be Litoria rubella, was reported in the media as being a new species, which is tentatively called Litoria sp. nov. It has yet to be officially reported in the scientific community, so both of these species are listed on the FrogWatch SA website and FrogSpotter mobile apps.
