biology

Roth's tree frog

Roth's tree frog is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Roth's tree frog rather than just read about it. In short: Roth's tree frog (Pengilleyia rothii), or the northern laughing tree frog, is a species of tree frog native to north-eastern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea. Description Roth's tree frog is a medium-sized frog, reaching a maximum length of 5.7 cm (2.2 in).

Key takeaways

Roth's tree frog belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Roth's tree frog to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Roth's tree frog from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Roth's tree frog (Pengilleyia rothii), or the northern laughing tree frog, is a species of tree frog native to north-eastern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea.

Description

Roth's tree frog is a medium-sized frog, reaching a maximum length of 5.7 cm (2.2 in). The body is elongated, with a small head and large eyes. It is an arboreal frog, and its toe pads are wider than its fingers. The dorsal surface is a dull grey to brown colour, and can be blotched with dark brown. The inner thighs and armpits are black and blotched with bright yellow or orange. The tympanum is visible, with a fold of skin covering the top portion. There are two features that distinguish it from both Peron's tree frog and Tyler's tree frog - the upper half of the iris is deep red, and it has no emerald green flecks on the dorsal surface.

Ecology and behaviour

Roth's tree frog breeds during the wet season, from November to March. The call is seven to 9 loud, chuckling or cackling sounds that resemble laughter. Eggs are laid in temporary pools of water, and the tadpoles take a maximum of 65 days to metamorphose. The colour of Roth's tree frog is extremely variable, and can change from pale grey to dark brown within hours. Typically, they are grey during the day whilst basking in the sun, and are brown at night.

References

Barker, J.; Grigg, G.C.; Tyler, M.J. (1995). A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Surrey Beatty & Sons. ISBN 0-949324-61-2. Tyler, Michael J. 1992. Encyclopedia of Australian Animals: Frogs. Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0-207-15996-3 "Frogs Australia Network - Australian Frog Database - Litoria rothii - Northern Laughing Treefrog". Archived from the original on August 24, 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-27.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Roth's tree frog

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Roth's tree frog claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Roth's tree frog before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Roth's tree frog ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Roth's tree frog

In research: Roth's tree frog appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Roth's tree frog in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Roth's tree frog is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Amphibians described in 1884, Amphibians of Papua New Guinea, Amphibians of Queensland, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Roth's tree frog outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Roth's tree frog in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Roth's tree frog means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Roth's tree frog out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Roth's tree frog in simple terms?

Roth's tree frog (Pengilleyia rothii), or the northern laughing tree frog, is a species of tree frog native to north-eastern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea. Description Roth's tree frog is a medium-sized frog, reaching a maximum length of 5.7 cm (2.2 in).

Why does Roth's tree frog matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Roth's tree frog?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Roth's tree frog.