Description

A small terrestrial frog typically found in close association with streams or rivers, Litoria wilcoxii ranges in size from 35-48mm among males and 39-69mm among females. Coloration is typically pale brown or fawn on the dorsum, and may range from being free of markings to having scattered dark flecks or large dark brown patches. A black streak bordered by a thin gold or pale-yellow line may be present extending along the body posteriorly at the level of the forelimb. The posterior surface of the thigh is black with small round or irregularly shaped spots of white, cream, or green. Ventral surfaces are white except in the submandibular area which may show fine, dark mottling. Hind limbs in both males and females are short with webbed toes, while the fingers, in contrast, are unwebbed, long and slender.

Males in breeding season frequently show lemon-yellow coloration on the flanks, upper surface of the forelimbs, and the side of the face, in additon to black or dark brown nuptial pads on the posterior dorsal surface of the first finger (Donnellann and Mahony 2004).

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Australia

	View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
	View Bd and Bsal data (93 records).

Litoria wilcoxii is found in northeast Queensland, Australia from the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system in the south to the headwaters of the Mitchell River, as well as in the western tributaries of the Barron River drainage and east-flowing streams of the Paluma Range (Donnelann and Mahony 2004).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors

Eggs of L. wilcoxii are laid in streams at the edges of slow water runs or partly under small rocks on the bedrock of the stream. In both locations, egg masses are adhered to a rock substrate or bottom sediments. Individual eggs have a dark, pigmented animal hemisphere, unpigmented vegital hemisphere and are approximately 1mm in diameter (Donnelann and Mahony 2004).

Trends and Threats

In a study by Retallick, McCallum, and Speare (2004), frogs considered to be L. wilcoxii or L. jungguy (ambiguity due to recent designation by Donnellan and Mahony 2004) were found to have a 28% prevalence of chytrid infection without showing signs of population decline or significant effect to the affected individuals. Although distinction between L. wilcoxii and L. jungguy was not made, Retallick et. al. suggest the possibility that the species is a reservoir host which may play a substantial role in the maintenance and spread of the chytrid infection (Retallick, McCallum and Speare 2004).

Comments
Although L. wilcoxii has been designated a distinct species within the Litoria lesueuri species group on the basis of genetic and allozyme analysis, it was originally designated L.wicoxii by Gunther in 1864, and later incorporated into the larger L. lesueuri species complex. It has also been previously recognized as Hyla vinosa and Hyla kinghorni, though both of these are now rejected in Donnellan and Mahony's redesignation to L. wilcoxii(Donnelann and Mahony 2004).

References

Donnellan, S. C., and Mahony, M. J. (2004). ''Allozyme, chromosomal and morphological variability in the Litoria lesueuri species group (Anura:Hylidae), including a description of a new species.'' Australian Journal of Zoology, 52, 1-28.

Retallick, R.W., McCallum, H., and Speare, R. (2004). ''Endemic infection of the amphibian chytrid fungus in a frog community post-decline.'' PLoS Biology, 2(11), e351.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2012 Litoria wilcoxii <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/6254> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Nov 22, 2024.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 22 Nov 2024.

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