Motorbike Frog

## About

A motorbike frog.

The motorbike frog ***(Litoria moorei)*** is a ground dwelling frog native to southwest Australia. The motorbike frog is a fairly large frog that grows up to 10cm (3.9in) in length and has powerful long, back hind legs. The motorbike frog has a green blotched patterning all around its body framed by a brown and grey colouration. Motorbike frogs also have a distinctive colour fluctuation according to their current body temperature. The colour of the motorbike frog may vary according the the temperature outside, for instance after sun baking the motorbike frog possess a more potent green colour though during colder temperatures the frog has a less striking, more dull brown colour. These frogs live in streams, dams, swamps and marshes and will have their young in water and surround them with vegetation. Unusually, motorbike frogs do not posses any webbing on their arms but they instead only have webbing on their hind legs in which are very powerful in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Motorbike frogs generally live near coastal regions, in the wetland subtropical areas of Southwestern Australia along with smaller frogs in which they prey upon.

## Diet

Motorbike frogs primarily eat other small frogs, small insects, spiders and worms. Motorbike frogs may also become cannibals at times as Climate watch states that motorbike frogs will often eat the juveniles of their own species. Though when a female Motorbike Frog gives birth to tadpoles, she will often give birth near a large patch of vegetation due to the tadpoles diet consisting of algae.

## Conservation Status

The IUCN has listed the motorbike frog as least concern with a stable population trend that does not appear to be in a decreasing state. The motorbike frog does not cope well with invasive species like the Horstock's arum-frog ***(Hyperolis horstockii)*** which has pushed the motorbike frog out of their preferred range through competition for food. Another threat to the motorbike frog is non treatable diseases that the frogs carry, due to invasive species overpopulation. The IUCN profile of the motorbike frog is due for an update but to this day there are still local community efforts provided, such as in land water protection in the motorbike frog's range.

## Range and Population

As displayed, the motorbike frog's population only reaches a small part of southwest Australia, in the state Western Australia. The range of the frogs is seen to reach from the Murchison river southeast to the Pallinup River. It is also evident that the motorbike frog lives on rottenest island along with the islands very own native wildlife such as the infamous the quokka ***(Setonix brachyurus)***. The motorbike frog is an amphibian meaning it adopts a lifestyle in which they are always near water. They will often find swamps, lakes and running water courses, even sometimes habitable areas that stretch into farmland dams and garden ponds, as stated by the Western Australia Museum. Though due to their diet they often try to find vegetated areas where not only can they feed, but they also live in proximity to suitable environments for their prey.

## Behaviour

The motorbike frog is typically best known for its breeding season and the certain calls that the male makes to attract females. The way the male courts females, is by sitting in between reeds and letting out a loud call that the Rottenest Island Wildlife describes to sound sort of like a motorbike, hence the name. This will usually also be followed by a sequence of growls which they may also give off when threatened. The initial mating call can be heard from up to a few 100m (328ft) away and is also utilised as an intimidation vocaliasation. Though it has been touched on already, one thing that is fascinating about motorbike frogs is their ability to change colour due to the temperature of their body. Their sensitive skin reacts by showing a more bright green colour after sun baking and a more dull brown colour in colder conditions. Which allows the frogs to exert or obtain heat if needed.

### Relationship with Humans

Motorbike frogs are seen as great backyard ecosystem contributors, as having them in your yard has proven to be a great way to keep the insect population down. Sometimes motorbike frogs can even be kept as pets in a glass terrarium with a replicated ecosystem just like other amphibians and reptiles kept as pets.

## In Captivity

There are no current Motorbike frogs recorded in captivity according to ZOOINSTITUTES though there have been some education efforts for the Motorbike Frog given to the public by Western Australia Museum.

## Sources

* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/
* Motorbike Frog | ZOOINTITUTES - https://zooinstitutes.com/#
* Motorbike Frog | Western Australia Museum - https://museum.wa.gov.au/
* Motorbike Frog | Rottenest Island Wildlife - https://wildlife.rottnestisland.com/
* Motorbike Frog | Climate Watch - https://www.climatewatch.org.au/