Litoria balatus Rowley, Mahony, Hines, Myers, Price, Shea & Donnellan, 2021

Taxonomic Classification

The slender bleating tree frog, scientifically named Litoria balatus, is a frog species belonging to the Hylidae family. It is endemic to Australia.

Geographic Range

Its range in Australia extends across southeast Queensland, from around the area of Maryborough southward, west to the Bunya Mountains and Stanthorpe, and further south into northeastern New South Wales. This is the "bleating tree frog" that lives in the region around Brisbane.

Taxonomic History

For a long time, this species was confused with the robust bleating tree frog, Litoria dentata, so it was only formally described as a separate species in 2021. In 2021, Rowley and colleagues distinguished three separate clades from what was previously thought to be one single species, Litoria dentata.

Species Delimitation Basis

This distinction was based on genetic divergence, small morphological differences, and clear differences in vocalizations; the vocalization recordings were collected through the FrogID Australia citizen science project. Of these three clades, one became the robust bleating tree frog (L. dentata sensu stricto), another became the slender bleating tree frog (L. balatus), and the third became the screaming tree frog (L. quiritatus).

Distinguishing Traits

Compared to the other two species, the slender bleating tree frog produces the shortest call, and has a more slender body build. It also has a white line that runs down its side, and breeding males of this species have a distinctly black vocal sac.