About Litoria rubella (Gray, 1842)
This species has a rotund body, a small flat head, short arms, and strong short legs. Adult individuals measure 28 to 43 mm (1.1 to 1.7 inches) in snout-vent length. Its ventral surface is white, while the dorsal surface ranges from light grey to dark red and is marked with small black flecks. Adult specimens from Cooktown, Queensland, often have a distinct metallic sheen on their dorsal surface, which ranges in color from bronze to gold. A dark band extends from the snout, across the eye, and along the flanks of the frog. Male individuals have dark grey throats during the breeding season. The groin is lemon-yellow, and the tympanum is visible. Juvenile frogs have an almost completely transparent abdomen, which makes their abdominal organs clearly visible from the outside. This species has a wide distribution across many different habitat types, leading to significant variation in its breeding habits. Populations living in temperate or tropical zones breed once annually during the wet season or summer, while populations in desert regions breed whenever rainfall occurs. The rate of tadpole development depends on water temperature. Small volumes of water reach higher temperatures, which trigger faster tadpole development; some individuals complete development in as little as 14 days. Unlike most other desert frogs, this species does not burrow to avoid heat and desiccation. Instead, individuals seek shelter under rocks, trees, or leaf litter. They are commonly found near human dwellings where water is available, and can even be found inside sinks, toilets, or drain pipes. Compared to other similar-sized desert frogs, this species has a relatively low rate of evaporative water loss, and does not dry out as quickly as expected under hot, dry conditions. This low rate of evaporative water loss can be partially explained by the species' water-conserving posture: frogs tuck their limbs close to their body, sealing off ventral skin from exposure to the outside environment. A study found that frog species like the desert tree frog that use water-conserving postures typically have higher resistance to evaporative water loss. This species can also change its skin color from dark brown to bright white. This color change increases solar reflectance off the skin, reducing the amount of heat the frog absorbs. Unlike most amphibians, this species will change color in response to dry air exposure regardless of the color of its previous background.
