Amphibians · Anura · Ceratobatrachidae

Fiji Tree Frog

Platymantis vitiensis

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

The Fiji tree frog is one of only two amphibians native to the archipelago, having reached those remote Pacific islands millions of years ago. It has no tadpole stage: the eggs, laid among damp leaf litter, hatch directly into fully formed froglets, an adaptation essential on islands without permanent watercourses.

Size

4 cm – 6 cm

Lifespan

8 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

RainforestIslandsInsectivore Nocturnal Solitary Near Threatened Amphibian Rainforest Islands

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Fun facts

It is one of only two amphibians native to Fiji: on oceanic islands as remote as these, with salt water in between, the arrival of an amphibian is an exceptional event, because its permeable skin cannot tolerate the sea.
It has no tadpole stage: the eggs are laid among damp leaf litter and hatch into fully formed froglets, which lets it breed with no need for pools or streams.
The mongooses, rats and cane toads introduced to Fiji are its main threats, along with the logging of native forest.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (amphibian)
Habitat & environment: Leaf litter and understorey of rainforest on the islands of Fiji
Sexual maturity: 18 months
Gestation / incubation: Direct development in the egg, with no tadpole stage
Litter / clutch size: 30 eggs

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/