Litoria cooloolensis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AMPHIBIA	ANURA	HYLIDAE

Scientific Name:

Litoria cooloolensis

Species Authority:

Liem, 1974

Common Name/s:

English

–

Cooloola Sedgefrog, Cooloola Tree Frog

Taxonomic Notes:

Genetic, vocalization and morphological differences between the populations on Cooloola and Fraser Island and those on North Stradbroke Island indicate that the the latter might represent a distinct species or subspecies (James 2000; E. Meyer unpubl.).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(iii) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2004

Assessor/s:

Harry Hines, Ed Meyer, Jean-Marc Hero, David Newell, John Clarke

Reviewer/s:

Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team (Simon Stuart, Janice Chanson and Neil Cox)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Endangered because its Extent of Occurrence is less than 5,000 km2, its distribution is severely fragmented, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat in southeastern Queensland.

History:

2002

–

Near Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This Australian endemic is known from south-eastern Queensland in Cooloola (or Great Sandy) National Park on Fraser Island, and North Stradbroke Island.
Countries:	Native: Australia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It occurs in large numbers on Fraser Island.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The species is found in sandy coastal and island freshwater lakes and wallum creeks, where it has a preference for dense reed beds. It is a spring and summer breeder, with males calling from reeds or trees around freshwater lakes. Eggs are deposited on submerged vegetation; larvae are free-swimming.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	High human visitation to the freshwater lakes important for breeding is a major threat, as is the trampling of reed beds and the pollution of water. Water extraction for sand mining and domestic use has had significant impacts on populations on North Stradbroke Island through habitat loss, deterioration in water quality and alterations in hydrology. More significantly, this species has virtually disappeared from Brown Lake on North Stradbroke Island following the introduction of predatory Gambusia fish there in 2003. However, overall these threats are relatively localized.

Major Threat(s):

High human visitation to the freshwater lakes important for breeding is a major threat, as is the trampling of reed beds and the pollution of water. Water extraction for sand mining and domestic use has had significant impacts on populations on North Stradbroke Island through habitat loss, deterioration in water quality and alterations in hydrology. More significantly, this species has virtually disappeared from Brown Lake on North Stradbroke Island following the introduction of predatory Gambusia fish there in 2003. However, overall these threats are relatively localized.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Most of the population is protected in the Cooloola or Great Sandy National Park. Fraser Island was inscribed into the list of UNESCO World Heritage Areas in 1992. Measures need to be taken to prevent the spread of Gambusia within its range, and to control the impacts of tourism.

Conservation Actions:

Most of the population is protected in the Cooloola or Great Sandy National Park. Fraser Island was inscribed into the list of UNESCO World Heritage Areas in 1992. Measures need to be taken to prevent the spread of Gambusia within its range, and to control the impacts of tourism.

Citation:	Harry Hines, Ed Meyer, Jean-Marc Hero, David Newell, John Clarke 2004. Litoria cooloolensis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 June 2013.
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