Habitat requirements for the Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea (Anura: Hylidae)

Abstract

We examined the habitat features of sites where the Green and Golden Bell Frog is known to have been present, differentiating between those sites where breeding is known to have occurred and those where breeding has not been recorded. We found that, for a site to support a breeding population of the species, it should contain water bodies which are still, shallow, ephemeral, unpolluted, unshaded and free of Gambusia and other predatory fish. It should have a grassy area nearby and other nearby vegetation should be no higher than woodland. The substrate of the ponds should be sand or rock, aquatic plants should be present and there should be a range of possible diurnal shelter sites, including vegetation and rocks.