Temporal variation in dorsal patterns of juvenile green-eyed tree frogs, Litoria genimaculata (Anura: Hylidae)

Abstract

Photo imaging of natural markings on amphibians is a non-invasive method of identifying individuals, but is only applicable to species that have persistent, distinguishable patterns. Few studies have investigated whether amphibian dorsal patterns are permanent or change during growth. We photographed juvenile Green-eyed Tree Frogs (Litoria genimaculata; n=20) for nine weeks after metamorphosis to determine whether individual frogs can be distinguished using dorsal pattern, and whether dorsal pattern changes over time. We found no detectable dorsal pattern change during the nine-week period. Each individual had a distinct dorsal pattern, which remained distinguishable, although the majority of the froglets (80%) changed color (brown to green or vice versa). We conclude that the photographic identification method can be used for at least moderately sized samples of individual L. genimaculata juveniles and possibly other species, although studies similar to ours should be conducted to verify this.