LittleJohn’s Tree Frog (Litoria littlejohni)

Common Name: LittleJohn’s Tree Frog, Northern Heath Frog
Scientific Name: Litoria littlejohni
Family: Hylidae – Tree Frog family
Location: Australia – New South Wales
Female Size: 2.75 inches (70 cm)
Male Size: 1.96 inches (50 cm)

The LittleJohn’s Tree Frog is found around Sydney, Australia. It is not named after the rapper Lil Jon. It is named after Dr Murray LittleJohn, a professor at University of Melbourne, who did a lot of stuff with frog bioacoustic in Australia. They are also called the Heath Frog because they can be found on the plants. However, the frog lives in forests that don’t have any heath plants.

The LittleJohn’s Tree Frog breeds after heavy rains, generally peaking from July to October. However, they can breed all year long. The male frog calls from low vegetation around pools in streams or swamps. Once the female frogs arrive, the male grasps them from behind in amplexus. Then, the female frog starts to lay her eggs in the male frog fertilizes them. Around 70 eggs are attached to submerged twigs. The tadpoles take 3 to 4 months to complete their metamorphosis.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assesses the LittleJohn’s Tree Frog as Endangered with Extinction. They have a really small range and have suffered massive population declines. One of the culprits of the declines is Chytrid Fungus, a deadly amphibian disease. The disease causes the frog’s skin to harden, choking out the frog. Chytrid Fungus was estimated to cause up to a 50% population drop.

Additionally, the frog’s habitat surrounds Sydney, the biggest city in Australia. This has caused habitat loss and degradation for the frog. Other reasons for the decline are bush fires especially the 2019-2020 bushfires that badly burned at least 20% of the LittleJohn’s Tree Frog’s habitat. There has also been severe droughts in the area that have also negatively effected the frog.

Invasive species are another problem for the LittleJohn’s Tree Frog. Feral cats and Red Foxes feast upon the frogs. The mosquitofish eat eggs and tadpoles. Introduced deer and pigs trample and eat native plants at large numbers, changing the habitat.