Australian green tree frog

Pelodryas caerulea · The Australian green tree frog is a species of tree frog native to Australia and New Guinea, also introduced to the United States.

Also called White's tree frog, Dumpy tree frog, Green Tree Frog.

Australian green tree frog
Photo: Matt from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0
Australian green tree frog
Photo: Alex's Backyard, CC BY-SA 4.0
Australian green tree frog
Photo: LiquidGhoul, Public domain

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAmphibia
OrderAnura
FamilyPelodryadidae
GenusPelodryas
SpeciesPelodryas caerulea

Where it lives

Southern New Guinea, Queensland, New South Wales and tropical Northern Territory.

Fun facts

  • In captivity, these frogs typically live about 16 years, and some have survived more than 20 years.
  • It can grow up to 11.5 cm (4.5 in) long, with females slightly larger than males.
  • When threatened it screams to scare off predators, and it squeaks if touched.
  • Peptides in its skin secretions have been found to destroy HIV without harming healthy human T cells.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).