Pelodryas caerulea

White's Tree Frog

Round toe pads hold a branch while the frog rests by day.

Reference photo, not the individual on display. Credits appear below.

Care commitment Specialist setup

Habitat Branches & cover

Visiting Watch quietly

Meet your new acquaintance

Nickname Night-time Branch Sitter

Nocturnal and arboreal

Toe pads help this tree frog grip surfaces. A rounded appearance is appealing, but excess body fat is not a sign of health.

Species stories

The blue mystery in a green frog’s name

The epithet caerulea means blue, although living frogs are often green. John White’s 1788 shipment and 1790 publication, with Sarah Stone’s imagery, connect animal, specimen and illustration.

Preservation may alter colour, but the Australian Museum notes uncertainty over whether the historical frog was originally blue or changed later. A general mechanism is not direct proof for that specimen.

The story remains complete with that uncertainty: the name records the circumstances in which people shipped, pictured and described the animal.

Story sources:

Australian Museum · White’s True-blue Green Tree Frog

At a glance

White’s tree frog is Pelodryas caerulea, also known in older literature as Litoria caerulea and Ranoidea caerulea. Native to northern and eastern Australia and parts of New Guinea, it uses trees and shrubs mainly at night and often rests against a support by day.

Toe discs connect elevated resting surfaces with nighttime insect hunting. Colour changes require context rather than a diagnosis from one shade.

Reproduction and tadpoles link a tree frog back to water. Older literature uses Litoria or Ranoidea, names that refer to the same familiar frog.

Common names White's Tree Frog; Ranoidea caerulea; Litoria caerulea; Whites Tree Frog

Scientific name Pelodryas caerulea

Native rangeNorthern and eastern Australia and parts of New Guinea

Adult sizeOften about 7–12 cm snout-to-vent length

ActivityNocturnal and arboreal

Diet Use varied, appropriately sized, gut-loaded insects, with calcium and vitamins coordinated with lighting. Control portions by condition rather than encouraging obesity or feeding to obtain activity.

Habitat & care

Provide load-bearing branches, airflow and dechlorinated water. Moisture should not mean permanently soaked surfaces.

Values guide routine care, not breeding or brumation. Dimensions are length × width × height for one adult unless stated otherwise; larger animals need more space.

TemperatureDaytime air 24–29°C Night 18–21°C; optional local warm area about 29°C. Avoid desert-lizard-style hot platforms.

HumidityDaytime 50–60% May rise to 70–75% at night, falling during the day. Avoid stagnant wet air and provide clean dechlorinated shallow water with safe exits.

LightingGentle light & cover Match lighting and nutrition to species and individual needs, avoiding excessive direct exposure.

Space45×45×90 cm Recommended starting size for one adult; provide strong perches, leaf cover and shallow water.

Look a little closer

Find the toe discs and identify contacts with glass, a branch or a leaf. At rest, observe folded limbs, body supports and subtle throat movements. Follow one foot releasing and settling again during a change of position.

Care note: Limit skin contact and manage water, ventilation and body condition together.

About this profile

AMNH uses Pelodryas caerulea; older literature also uses Ranoidea caerulea and Litoria caerulea.

Profile status: Reference profile · Reviewed 2026-10-20

References (4)

Photo: LiquidGhoul · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons，resized for display · Original image, credit and licence

Behaviour notes describe the species, not a promise about every individual. These care notes introduce its needs; ask our team about the animal on display and any supervised encounters.