Milkface Treefrog
Basic Information
Anatomy
The Milkface Treefrog is a medium species of tree frog, measuring 2 inches long. They are characterized by a pale brown body with white sides, orange feet, and a white face. Eye colors range from a lemon yellow to dark green with a red rim. The frogs have large toes which they use to stick to surfaces such as branches, leaves, and rocks.
Genetics and Reproduction
Milkface treefrogs reproduce in wetter seasons in which they gather en-mass to temporary pools, ponds, and rivers created by the rains. When conditions are right and the dry season is about to end, the frogs will journey to low lying areas where seasonal bodies of water form to begin attracting mates. Males will generally arrive first, competing for the best areas among one another and singing to attract females. Female milkfaces will watch from the edges of the pools until it has rained for at least 3 days, ensuring that there is enough water that the ponds will not dry up completely.
Milkface treefrogs typically lay between 150-300 eggs depending on the size of the females and typically these eggs will hatch into tadpoles in 1 week. Tadpoles are not picky eaters, and within 2 months, will metamorphose into froglets that return to the woodlands until their own breeding season.
Ecology and Habitats
Milkface treefrogs spends the majority of their lives in woodlands, shrubland, and relatively wetter regions of northern Australia. They will venture from these regions to breed wherever seasonal ponds and rivers form. Recently, the frogs have begun to stay stationary in smaller regional pockets due to warmer and wetter weather, particularly around towns and cities that have high amounts of water features, gardens, and pools. While some consider the species a pest, many also view them as a welcome addition as a natural form of pest control.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Milkface tree frogs will eat any insect they can catch and fit in their mouths, primarily favoring tree-dwelling caterpillars, moths, butterflies, and beetles. The species seems unaffected by toxins commonly found in many beetle species, instead making use of it themselves as a natural defense against predation.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Due to surges in population as well as becoming a much more common sight in populated areas, the frogs have become relatively common in the pet trade recently. Wild caught frogs in the pet industry thus far serve little risk to their wild populations, and the species is extremely easy to breed in captivity. Their striking colors, tolerance for high heat and dry conditions, as well as a long lifespan make them a hardy pet.
Many within Australia have also begun to use the frogs as natural forms of pest control in order to reduce insect population booms due to wetter conditions. Insect populations in northern Australia have been on the rise in recent years, particularly waterborne insects such as mosquitos, to the concern of many residents. A similar rise in frog populations has seen the control of most insects, though there are some concerns that a crash may soon be following.
Origin/Ancestry
Natural
Lifespan
6-10 years
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Average Length
2 inches
Geographic Distribution
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