While getting in the car to go out, we discovered this Peron's Tree Frog (Litoria peronii) hiding in the seal of the boot. We observed it closely and identified the characteristics of its eyes with their cross-shaped pupil, ears, rough textured skin, and padded, half-webbed toes.
We later carried out further research and discovered it was also known as the "Maniacal Cackle Frog" due to its distinctive call. This helped us to link it with the frog noises we hear in the gutter outside our bedroom when it is about to rain!
We observed the emerald green fleck markings on its back and legs (easier to see in the larger photos) and decided this and the rough mottled texture of its skin would help it camouflage on rough bark covered in lichen (as many of our trees are). We observed the bright yellow flashes under its legs and wondered if this would help it signal for mates, or possibly warn off predators.
We found this video of calling Peron Tree frogs, and decided that ours made their calls MUCH louder by using the reverberations and echoes in the gutter.
We released our Peron's Tree Frog onto a nearby tree.
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