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| Motorbike Frog (Litoria moorei) |
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The southwest's most commonly encountered frog. A large, powerfully built frog with relatively long hind limbs. Back colour is extremely variable ranging from green with gold mottling (after basking in sunlight) to an almost uniform dark brown (colder conditions). The belly is pale green to light brown. The end of the fingers and toes have obvious discs and the toes are partially webbed. Males have black 'nuptial' pads on outer surface of thumbs during breeding season. Length up to 7.5 cm.
Listen to call
Approx. 689k Requires
Quicktime 4 or higher.
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Distribution
The Darling Escarpment from Bullsbrook south to Mt. Williams and east to Dryandra. Does not occur on the coastal plain.
Habitat
Swamps, lakes, farm dams, garden ponds and along vegetated watercourses.
Food
Often found foraging far from water and sometimes perching in low vegetation. Probably eats a wide variety of flying and terrestrial insects and other invertebrates. A known predator on smaller frog species.
Breeding
Often calls from floating vegetation or within reed beds. May also call from more open areas around dams or from the branches of trees. Breeding season may begin in early spring and extend well into the summer months.
Call
The call has two components: a rising series of tones similar to a motorbike changing gears, followed by a series of warbling growls. The call can only be heard within a few hundred metres.
Eggs
A large number of eggs are laid in clumps attached to floating or slightly submerged vegetation. Eggs are held together by a transparent 'jelly'.
Tadpoles
Length up to 8 cm. Body is a uniform dark brown above with a silvery metallic sheen below. Intestinal coils are not visible through the body wall. Tail fins are deep with flecks of dark pigments and tail tip is distinctly pointed. Tadpoles usually hide in vegetation in permanent water. Early stage tadpoles sometimes swim in 'schools'. Metamorphosis can occur late in summer (March-April). Tadpoles of this species may skip metamorphosis in deep cool ponds, grow to enormous sizes (as large as 14 cm) and emerge as froglets after 14 months as a tadpole.
Other notes
Although sometimes referred to as a 'Tree Frog', this species is primarily terrestrial or ground-dwelling. However, Motorbike Frogs are also good climbers and can be found perching in low trees or shrubs and among rocks. They are often found considerable distances away from known wetland breeding sites and are the most commonly encountered frog in Perth suburban gardens.
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