Litoria latopalmata (Broad-palmed Tree-frog)

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Current conservation status: Uncommon. Not much is known about this frog. Family: Hylidae. Appearance: Dorsal colour is typically of a light grey or brown, often with darker blotches and slightly raised warts. A broad stripe runs along the side of the head from the snout to above the shoulder. The stripe is broken by a white bar in front of the eye. The back of the thighs are a dark brown colour with yellow blotches, and the toe-pads are not much wider than the toes. Length: 30-45mm. Breeding: Late spring to summer, November to February. Breeds in farm dams, natural wetlands and stream side pools. Males call from the edge of the water in vegetation or on rocks. Eggs are laid in clusters near the surface of the water. Habitat: Occupies forests, heathlands, grasslands and cleared pastures. Distribution: Permanent and seasonal rivers, dams and large ponds. Uncommon in the ACT, only found in localized areas. Occurs mainly along parts of the Murrumbidgee River and some larger tributary streams and creeks between Kambah Pool in the ACT and Lake Burrinjuck in NSW. Biology: Very little known. They may prefer open country interspersed with rocky areas and woodland. Most breeding populations near Canberra have been found in steep dissected landscapes supporting small rocky streams with occasional still pools. Male frogs have been heard calling from hollows among grass and rocky benches at the edge of these pools. Call: A very distinct, repeated, duck-lick quacking which typically starts slowly and builds to a rapid crescendo "yap, yap, yap, yap, yap..." Current conservation status: Uncommon. Not much is known about this frog. ACT Distribution: Some localised populations, strongly associated with Murrumbidgee River corridor.